vT.  / .  / 7 


c  tilt  ®^ningfra/   * 


PRINCETON,  N.  J. 


From  a  photograph  taken  by  Gh6mar 
Frlres,  Brussels,  Belgium,  during  Dr.  Shel- 
ton's  second  trip  to  Europe  in  1864-65,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-six  years. 


1bistor£  of 

St  IfrauTs  (Iburcb 

Buffalo,  1FL  15. 


1817   to   1888. 


BY 

CHARLES    W.  'EVANS, 

One  of  the  Wardens,  from  1863  until  his  death,  February  8,  18 


Edited,  with  Foot  Notes,  Occasional  Additions  in  the  Text,  and  a 
Continuation  of  the  History  from 


1888  to   1903. 


With  Chapters  on  :  The  Restored  St.  Paul's  ;  The 
Memorials;  The  Ivy;  The  Chimes  of  St.  Paul's; 
The  Great  Tower  and  Spire;  The  Music,  1817-1903; 
Historical  Notes,  181 7- 1903;  List  of  the  Clergy, 
1817-1903;  List  of  the  Vestry,  1817-1903  ;  The 
Architects  of   St.  Paul's  ;    Subscription   Lists,  Etc. 

by 
ALICE    M.    EVANS    BARTLETT 

AND 

G.    HUNTER    BARTLETT. 


TKMtb  Siit$*four  Illustrations. 


The  Matthews-Northrup  Works, 
buffalo  and  new  york. 

1903. 


Copyright,  1903,  by 
Alice  M.  Evans  Bartlett 
and  G.  Hunter  Bartlett. 


TO    THE     M  E  M  O  R  Y 

OF    THE 

IRev.  WlHllam  Sbelton,  2).  2). 

Rector  of 
ST.   PAUL'S    CHURCH,    BUFFALO,   N.   V., 

1829   TO    1882, 

This  History  is  Affectionately  Inscribed 

BY 

THE    AUTHOR. 


[preface- 


THE  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Buffalo,  was  first  suggested  by 
the  vestry  June  7,  1841,  but  beyond  the  collection  of  some  useful 
memoranda  nothing  was  done.  From  1847  to  1887  the  minutes 
of  the  vestry  were  recorded  in  somewhat  of  a  historical  form.  In  1886 
it  was  suggested  to  the  undersigned  to  write  a  history  of  the  parish  — 
and  having  been  called  by  his  fellow  parishioners,  at  different  times 
during  the  past  forty  years,  to  all  the  important  offices  of  the  parish  — 
first  as  clerk  of  the  vestry,  then  as  treasurer  of  the  parish,  then  as  one 
of  the  vestry,  and  subsequently  as  junior  warden,  and,  finally,  as  senior 
warden  —  he  became  possessed,  in  the  exercise  of  the  duties  of  these 
different  offices,  of  considerable  knowledge  of  parish  history,  by  tradi- 
tion as  well  as  by  examination  of  the  records,  the  result  of  all  of  which 
is  this  history.  He  hopes  it  will  be  favorably  received  by  the  present 
parishioners.  Of  course,  the  central  figure  is  our  late  rector,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Shelton  ;  and  such  parishioners  are  named  as  have  made  more 
or  less  of  parish  history,  or  have  been  instrumental  in  advancing  its 
interests.  The  chronological  form  was  thought  to  be  the  best  adapted 
in  showing  the  progress  of  the  paris"h  from  its  organization  in  181 7, 
through  its  days  of  adversity,  then  in  its  more  comfortable  circum- 
stances, and  finally,  through  the  large  expenditures  in  building  the 
church  edifice,  to  its  present  prosperous  condition. 

CHARLES  W.  EVANS. 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  January,  1888. 


Charles  W.  Evans  died  February  8,  1889,  in  the  seventy-seventh  year  of  his  age, 
leaving  the  History  referred  to  above  in  manuscript. 

The  Dedication  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton,  the  Preface  and  the  full  text  of  the  "History 
of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Buffalo,"  by  Mr.  Evans,  from  1817  to  1888  (pages  7  to  159  in 
this  volume)  are  given  as  he  left  them  in  manuscript.  It  was  his  expressed  wish  that 
the  present  editors  should  prepare  this  part  of  the  book  for  the  press.     Footnotes  have 


Preface. 

been  added  wherever  the  interest  of  the  narrative  seemed  increased  thereby.  We 
have  also  thought  best  to  add  such  paragraphs  as  might  serve  to  fill  out  the  details 
of  the  story  for  present-day  readers,  and  have  therefore  inserted  in  Mr.  Evans's  text 
extracts  from  Dr.  Shelton's  first  sermon  in  the  new  church  in  185 1  (p.  73),  and 
portions  of  the  sermons  by  Bishop  Coxe  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Brown  on  the  death  of 
Dr.  Shelton  (p.  150,  147),  also  a  description  of  the  church,  published  in  1 85 1  (p.  68), 
written  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  Wells  Hayes,  who  was  present  at  the  consecration  in 
that  year.  Further  details  have  also  been  added  in  some  of  the  obituary  accounts  of 
parishioners,  and  elsewhere. 

Also  in  accordance  with  Mr.  Evans's  desire,  we  have  continued  the  History  from 
January  1888,  bringing  it  down  to  April,  1903.  The  work  of  preparing  the  book  was 
begun  shortly  after  Mr.  Evans's  death,  and  has  been  carried  on,  with  unavoidable 
interruptions  and  delays,  until  now.  The  obtaining  of  reliable  data  in  many  instances 
has  taken  much  time.  The  expected  task  of  a  few  years  has  extended,  a  labor  of  love, 
over  many  years.  The  architectural  description  of  the  Restored  Church,  the  chapters 
on  The  Memorials,  The  Chimes,  The  Tower,  and  The  Music,  the  Historical  Notes, 
and  the  various  lists,  have  all  been  added  as  bearing  on  the  history  of  the  parish,  and 
as  worthy  of  preservation  in  a  volume  devoted  to  its  annals. 

Much  time  and  care  have  been  given  in  searching  out  the  facts,  and  in  verifying  the 
dates,  names,  and  other  details  of  this  history,  both  by  verbal  and  written  inquiry,  and 
in  the  examination  of  the  vestry  records,  treasurers'  books,  many  old  documents,  old 
letters,  and  newspaper  files.  The  records  of  the  city  and  county,  the  Bureau  of  Vital 
Statistics,  and  the  Buffalo  Historical  Society,  etc.,  have  also  been  frequently  consulted. 
Some  errors  are,  however,  unavoidable  in  a  book  of  this  kind,  especially  when  it  is 
remembered  that  minor  inaccuracies  and  omissions  exist  in  the  original  records  and 
documents  themselves.  We  have  also  prepared  and  added  an  analytical  Index,  with 
cross  references. 

In  the  brief  obituary  accounts  given  in  this  volume  of  members  of  the  parish  who 
have  passed  away,  only  those  who  were  parochial  officers,  or  who  were  in  some  other 
way  prominently  identified  with  the  growth  and  work  of  St.  Paul's,  during  the  eighty- 
six  years  covered  by  this  history,  have  been  mentioned.  Of  the  great  majority  of  the 
army  of  faithful  parishioners  who  now  rest  from  their  labors,  it  has  been  impossible  to 
give  here  even  the  names. 

The  history  of  St.  Paul's  parish,  beginning  as  it  does  almost  with  the  beginnings  of 
Buffalo  itself,  affords  glimpses  of  the  old  village  life  of  our  city,  of  the  days  when  "  the 
burning  "  was  in  everyone's  mind  as  an  event  of  yesterday,  and  when  the  regions  north 
of  Chippewa  Street  were  still  haunted  by  the  legendary  spirits  of  the  fields  and  woods. 

We  wish  to  acknowledge  the  manifold  courtesies  received  from  the  Rector  and  the 
vestry,  and  from  many  members  of  the  parish  and  others,  in  the  preparation  of  this 
History  for  the  press. 

The  work  is  published  by  Mr.  Evans's  wife  and  family,  in  fulfillment  of  his  long- 
cherished  wish.  ALICE    M.   EVANS    BARTLETT. 
Buffalo,  N.  V.,  April  16,  1903.  G.   HUNTER   BARTLETT. 


Contents. 


Pages. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Buffalo,  February  10,  1817,  to  January  1,  1SS8,  7"r59 
Continuation  of  the  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  January  I,  1888,  to  April 

16,  1903, 163-263 

The  Restored  St.  Paul's, 265-278 

The  Memorials, 278-298 

The  Ivy, • 298,299 

The  Chimes  of  St.  Paul's, 299-313 

The  Great  Tower  and  Spire, 3x4-3l8 

The  Music  at  St.  Paul's,  1  Si 7- 1903, 3I9"356 

Historical  Notes,  1817-1903 357"395 

St.  Paul's  Church,  Historical  Outline,  1817-1903, 357-3°° 

The  Seal  of  the  Corporation, 36o»  301 

The  first  Roman  Catholic  Mass  in  Buffalo, 361 

Notes  on  the  early  Rectors, 36I_3°5 

Extracts  from  some  early  letters,  from   the   Rev.  Addison  Searle, 

Rector  of  St.  Paul's,  to  Bishop  Hobart,  etc., 365,  366 

Major  Noah's  City, 366"369 

Accounts  and  Anecdotes  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton, 369"383 

Early  years  of  the  Church  in  Buffalo, 383"385 

The  Bank  of  England  and  St.  Paul's, 385>  386 

Account  of  the  formation  of  a  free  church  for  lakemen  and  others,  3S6-388 

Removal  of  the  frame  church,  1850, 38S,  3S9 

The  numbering  of  the  Pearl  Street  Rectory, 389,  390 

The  Wooden  Model  of  St.  Paul's, 390"392 

Notes  on  the  Sunday  School, 392 

St.  Paul's  Guild, 392"394 

From   Minutes  of  the  Building  Committee,  after  the  fire  of  1888,  394,  395 

List  of  the  Clergy  in  St.  Paul's  Church,   181 7-1903, 396 

List  of  the  Wardens  and  Vestrymen  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  181 7-1903,     .      .  397-420 

The  Architects  of  St.  Paul's,  1819-1890, 421-426 

Subscription  Lists, 426-439 

In  Conclusion, 44°,  441 

Index,     443-472 


Illustrations. 


Portrait  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton,  taken  in  Brussels,  Belgium,  at  the  age 

of  66  years,  with  autograph, Frontispiece. 

Page. 

Reduced  facsimile  of  receipt  given  at  first  sale  of  pews,  November  24,  1820,     .     .  6 
Reduced  facsimile  of  original  Organization  Paper  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  February 

10,  1S17, 8 

The  Rt.  Rev.  John  Henry  Hobart,  D.  D., 12 

Reduced  facsimile  of  autograph  letter  of  Joseph  Ellicott  to  the  vestry,  May  20, 

1819, *4 

Map  of  Buffalo  Village, l6 

Reduced  facsimiles  of  pew  deeds  in  1823  and  1826, 22 

Plan  of  original  frame  church  of  St.  Paul's,  as  built  in   1819,  with  names  of  pew 

holders  in  1827, 3° 

St.  Paul's  frame  church  from  Main  Street, 32 

Original  Altar,  Chancel-rail,  reading-desk,  pulpit  and  font,  in  frame  church,  with 

plan  of  chancel, 34 

"The  Churches"  in  1838  (from  Buckingham's  "America"), 38 

Easterly  end  of  interior  of  St.  Paul's  frame  church,  showing  the  organ,  1829-50,  38 

The  Rev.  William  Shelton  at  about  the  age  of  35  years, 4° 

Plan  of  galleries,  basement,  and  part  of  south  aisle,  St.  Paul's  frame  church,     .     .  44 
"The  Churches"  in   1838    (from    title    page  of    "Buffalo    City  Guards    Grand 

March"), 46 

Reduced  facsimiles  of  stock  certificate  and  pew  deed,  St.  Paul's  Church,  1849-51,  54 

Plan  of  St.  Paul's  frame  church,  with  names  of  pew  holders  in  1849,     •      ■      •      •  58 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  at  about  the  age  of  52, •  60 

Reduced  facsimiles  of  the  two  lithographic  drawings  of  St.  Paul's,  published  in 

1851, 68 

Reduced  facsimile  of    the  lithographed  plan  of  church  in   1 85 1,  with  names  of 

pew  holders  at  Easter,  1857, 84 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton,  from  a  photograph  taken  about  the  early  '6o's,  ....  88 

The  Rt.  Rev.  William  Heathcote  DeLancey,  D.  D.,  LL.  D., 96 

The  Rt.  Rev.  Arthur  Cleveland  Coxe,  D.  D.,  LL.  D., 98 

St.  Paul's  from  Main  Street,  in  1867,  before  the  spires  were  built, 104 

St.  Paul's  from  South  Division  Street,  in  1870,  just  before  the  completion  of  the 

main  spire, IO" 


Illustrations. 

Page. 
General  view  of  Buffalo  in   1870,  looking  north,  from  scaffolding  on  main  spire 

of  St.  Paul's, 10S 

St.  Paul's  from  Main  Street  in  1870,  after  the  completion  of  the  main  spire,    .      .  no 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  in  his  72c!  year, 114 

General  view  of  St.  Paul's  and  the  city,  from  the  tower  of  the  City  Hall  (1875),  118 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  in  his  80th  year,  from  the  Sellstedt  portrait, 124 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  in  the  <  hancel  of  St.  Paul's,  February,  1 881,  in  his  83d  year,  128 

The  Rev.  John  Wesley  Brown,  D.  D.,  from  a  crayon  drawing, 136 

Plan  of  St.  Paul's,  and  names  of  pew  holders  in  1883, 138 

"The  Churches  "  in  1884, 152 

Interior  of  St.  Paul's,  looking  east  from  the  west  organ  gallery,  1884,  ....  154 
The  first  Shelton  Memorial  Windows  at  St.  Paul's.      The  Rev.  Dr.  Brown  in  the 

chancel,  1887, 156 

Repointing  the  main  spire  in  1886, 160 

The  ruins  of  St.  Paul's  from  Main  Street,  1888, 161 

Interior  view  of  ruins  of  St.  Paul's,  looking  east  from  the  west  organ  gallery,    .      .  166 

Interior  view  of  ruins  of  St.  Paul's,  looking  west  from  the  chancel 168 

The  Restored  St.  Paul's,  from  Main  Street, 182 

The  Rev.  J.  A.  Regester,  S.  T.  D 194 

The  present  Rectory  of  St.  Paul's,  61  Johnson's  Park, 200 

Bishop  Coxe,  about  1892, 204 

Bishop  Walker, 212 

Dr.  Shelton's  Rectory,  128  Pearl  Street, 216 

The  present  Parish  House,  128  Pearl  Street, 216 

Plan  of  Restored  St.  Paul's,  and  names  of  pew  holders  in  1902, 250 

Plan  of  St.  Paul's  Church  and  lot  in  1902,  showing  triangles  of  land  deeded  to  the 

church  in  that  year, 254 

The  Restored  St.  Paul's,  from  site  of  Prudential  Building, 263 

The  Restored  St.  Paul's,  Interior,  looking  east  from  main  vestibule,       ....  272 

The  Restored  St.  Paul's,  looking  west  from  the  Chancel, 278 

The  Restored  St.  Paul's,  from  the  northwest  corner  of  Pearl  and   Church  streets,  298 

In  the  belfry  of  the  Great  Tower, 304 

At  the  keyboard  in  the  Chimers'  room, 310 

The  Restored  St.  Paul's,  from  the  corner  of  Pearl  and  Swan  streets,  showing  the 

Great  Tower  and  Spire, 314 

The  Restored  St.  Paul's,  Interior,  showing  the  Chancel  and  the  vested  choir, .     .  352 

The  seal  of  the  Corporation  of  St.  Paul's  Church, 360 

Corner  stone  of  the  City  of  Ararat  (1825), 368 

The  German-Evangelical  St.  Peter's  Church,  formerly  old  St.  Paul's,      ....  388 

Views  of  the  wooden  model  of  St.  Paul's,  1850, 390 

St.  Paul's  and  its  environment,  1902  (views  from  South  Division  Street  and  from 

the  Erie  County  Savings  Bank  Building), 440 

(Added  too  late  for  insertion  above.) 

Monument  to  the  memory  of  the  Rev.  Addison  Searle,  Mount  Auburn  Cemetery, 

Cambridge,  Mass 366 


HMstor^  of  St.  jpaul's  Cburcb, 

Buffalo,  m.  ty. 


M\U  A.  Ill*  may 


/■  \Tt'/ty     tfiie     {  ( trtt  aaJ ^_^aml  fiat  haid, 
-andtnat  tnc  hat/me 


iftc  furtfi.tr 


ll^O  j|  <fittn  offjifev&n,  --UvUfltiJ. ruiit  cntiiie  finite  a  <!£*CC0<?/  tti6<sakL  <t/?iA: 


L-  i;r-t '  y  l  t  i  c  / 


r/~/. 


REDUCED    FACSIMILE    OF    RECEIPT. 
Given  at  first  sale  of  pews,  November  24,  1820.     (See  page  16.) 


Ibistor^  of  St.  fl>aul'8  Cburcb, 

JBuffalo,  W.  35. 


EFORE  beginning  the  history  of  this  parish  it  may 
be  interesting  to  note  the  rise  and  progress  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  what  is  now  the 
Diocese  of  Western  New  York.  That  rise  and  prog- 
ress was  born  of  the  missionary  spirit,  which  has  ever 
been  in  the  church,  and  it  has  been  observed  that  its 
most  efficient  progress  has  been  from  the  east  to  the  west.  Bishop 
Hobart,  although  the  Bishop  of  New  York,  was  at  the  same  time  a 
zealous  missionary  bishop.  In  his  address  to  the  Diocesan  Convention 
in  the  city  of  New  York  in  October,  1814,  he  said  that  too  much  value 
cannot  be  placed  on  missionary  services,  and  there  is  no  object  of  more 
importance  to  the  general  interests  of  religion  and  to  the  prosperity  of 
the  church,  and  none  more  strongly  demanded  by  the  spirit  and  pre- 
cepts of  the  Gospel,  than  the  encouragement  of  missionary  labors. 

Buffalo  was  laid  out  in  the  year  1804,  by  Joseph  Ellicott,  as  agent 
of  the  Holland  Land  Company,  and  was  then  called  New  Amsterdam. 
Its  principal  streets  were  named  after  the  proprietors  of  the  company, 
and  its  less  important  ones  after  Indian  tribes,  but  most  of  these  names 
were  changed  in  after  years. 

The  place  itself  was  called  Buffalo  as  early  as  1812,  at  which  time 
it  became  a  military  post  in  the  war  between  the  United  States  and 
England.  It  was  burnt  by  the  English,  December  30,  1813.  In 
1810,  it  had  a  population  of  1,500  ;  but  in  1814,  the  next  year  after 
it    was   burned,    the    population    was   only    1,000.       At   the   time   of 


8  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

the  organization  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  in  1817,  Buffalo  contained 
100  houses,  several  of  them  being  of  brick.  The  population  had 
increased  to  2,000  in  1820,  and  on  the  completion  of  the  Erie 
Canal,  in  1825,  to  5,000  ;  in  1832,  it  was  incorporated  as  a  city,  with 
a  population  of  10,000. 

The  church  in  Western  New  York  showed  a  marked  increase  under 
Bishop  Hobart,  and  every  year  its  missionaries  extended  their  visits 
more  and  more  westward  from  the  Genesee  River.  From  18 15  to  181 7 
we  find  ministerial  acts  recorded  by  the  Rev.  Alanson  Welton,  Rev. 
George  H.  Norton,  Rev.  Samuel  Johnston,  and  Rev.  Wm.  A.  Clark. 

The  first  Episcopal  Church  on  the  Holland  Land  Purchase  was 
organized  in  181 1,  in  the  town  of  Sheldon,  Genesee  County,  and  Bishop 
Hobart  visited  it  when  there  was  no  other  west  of  Allen's  Hill  in 
Ontario  County,  N.  Y.  The  first  baptism  recorded  in  Buffalo  was  that 
of  Mary  Tillinghast  Leake,  daughter  of  Isaac  Q.  and  Catherine  Leake, 
on  October  19,  181 2,  at  the  house  of  her  parents.  The  next  was  that 
of  their  son,  Godfrey  Wilson  Leake,  on  April  4,  1815.  The  Rev. 
Samuel  Johnston  baptized  John  Smith  Trowbridge,  the  son  of  Doctor 
Josiah  and  Margaret  Trowbridge,  on  February  23,  1 81 7  ;  Dr.  Trow- 
bridge came  to  Buffalo  in  1S11.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Johnston  also  bap- 
tized Catherine,  wife  of  Sheldon  Thompson,  on  March  2,  1817. 


1817. 

The  certificate  of  incorporation  of  St.  Paul's  Church  states  that  a 
meeting  of  the  members  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  of  the 
village  of  Buffalo,  in  the  county  of  Niagara,  was  assembled  at  Elias 
Ransom's  tavern  in  the  said  village  on  Monday,  February  10,  1817,  in 
pursuance  of  notice  for  that  purpose  given  during  morning  service  on 
two  preceding  Sundays,  and  in  compliance  with  "An  act  to  provide 
for  the  incorporation  of  Religious  Societies,"  passed  by  the  Legislature 
of  the  State  of  New  York,  in  the  year  1813.     The  Rev.  Samuel  John- 


— ■-* 


REDUCED  FACSIMILE  OF  ORIGINAL  ORGANIZATION'  PAPER  OF  ST.  PAUL'S  CHURCH. 

February  10,  1817.    (Seepage  8.) 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  9 

ston  being  called  to  the  chair,  divine  service  was  held,  after  which 
came  the  election  of  wardens  and  vestrymen  ;  Erastus  Granger  and 
Isaac  Q.  Leake  being  elected  wardens,  and  Samuel  Tupper,  Sheldon 
Thompson,  Elias  Ransom,  John  G.  Camp,  Henry  M.  Campbell,  John 
S.  Larned,  Jonas  Harrison,  and  Josiah  Trowbridge,  vestrymen.  At  the 
same  time  it  was  unanimously  resolved  :  "That  Easter  Monday,  here- 
after, be  the  clay  for  the  annual  election  of  their  successors,*  and  that 
the  said  church  be  known  and  distinguished  by  the  name  of  St.  Paul's 
Church  in  Buffalo."  The  certificate  bears  date  February  10,  1817, 
and  is  signed  by  Samuel  Johnston,  chairman,  in  the  presence  of  George 
Badger  and  Jacob  A.  Barker,  members  of  the  said  church.  Their 
acknowledgments  were  taken  by  Oliver  Forward,  Judge  of  the  Com- 
mon Pleas,  Niagara  County  ;  and  the  certificate  was  recorded  in 
Niagara  County  Clerk's  office  in  Buffalo,  on  February  10,  1817,  at  five 
o'clock  P.  M.,  in  Liber  1  of  Miscellaneous  Records,  at  page  31. 

Erie  County  was  separated  from  Niagara  County  in  the  year  1821, 
and  Buffalo  became  its  county  seat ;  Lockport  being  the  county  seat 
of  Niagara  County. 

The  tavern  of  Elias  Ransom,  in  which  this  meeting  was  held,  was 
on  the  northwest  corner  of  Main  and  Huron  streets,  and  was  one  of 
the  most  popular  houses  of  its  kind  in  Buffalo. 

The  following  residents  of  Buffalo  signed  a  paper, f  dated  February 
10,  1 81 7,  in  which  they  agreed  to  become  members  of  St.  Paul's  Church, 
and  to  conform  to  the  rites  and  ceremonies  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  :  Elias  Ransom,  John  Root,  Smith  H.  Salisbury,  John  G. 
Camp,  Jonas  Harrison,  Isaac  Q.  Leake,  Josiah  Trowbridge,  Jacob  A. 
Barker,  Sheldon  Thompson,  Ebenezer  Johnson,  David  Brown,  Henry 
M.  Campbell,  James  Campbell,  Eben  Beach,  Samuel  Tupper,  Elihu 
Alvord,  John  S.  Larned,  George  Badger,  S.  P.  Beebe,  Elias  Ransom,  Jr., 
John  A.  Coffin,  F.  W.  G.  Camp  ;  in  addition  to  these,  the  following  per- 
sons were  members  :  David  M.  Day  of  Buffalo,  Mrs.  Elias  Ransom  and 
four  children,  Mrs.  John  G.  Camp,  Mrs.  Henry  M.  Campbell  and  Miss 

*In  accordance  with  this  resolution  a  second  vestry  election  was  held  a  few  weeks 
later,  on  Easter  Monday,  April  7,  1817.  All  the  members  of  the  original  vestry  were 
reelected  at  this  time. 

t  See  the  reproduction  of  the  original  paper,  opposite  page  8. 


io  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

Campbell,  Mrs.  J.  S.  Larned  and  two  children,  Mrs.  Josiah  Trowbridge 
and  son,  Mrs.  Jonas  Harrison  and  daughter,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oliver  For- 
ward, J.  Josephs,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoyt  and  child,  John  Lay,  Jr.,  Mrs.  Eben- 
ezer  Johnson,  Zenas  W.  Barker,  James  Remington,  and  George  Badger. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  vestry,  Erastus  Granger  and  Dr. 
Josiah  Trowbridge  were  appointed  a  committee  to  wait  upon  Joseph 
Ellicott,  agent  of  the  Holland  Land  Company,  to  ask  for  such  dona- 
tion and  assistance  as  he  might  be  disposed  to  grant,  and  to  confer 
with  him  on  the  subject  of  a  burial  ground  for  the  society,  and  for  a 
lot  on  which  to  build  the  proposed  church. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Johnston  was  instructed  to  write  to  Bishop 
Hobart,  requesting  the  aid  and  assistance  of  Trinity  Church  in  New 
York. 

Mr.  Erastus  Granger  waited  on  Joseph  Ellicott  to  solicit  a  donation 
of  one  of  the  company's  lots  in  Buffalo.  Mr.  Ellicott  expressed  sur- 
prise that  Mr.  Granger  from  New  England  should  be  with  the  Episco- 
palians. Mr.  Granger  said  his  wife  was  an  Episcopalian.  Mr.  Ellicott 
said  he  knew  Mrs.  Granger  when  she  was  a  little  girl  in  Canandaigua, 
and  there  was  no  church  there,  but  it  transpired  that  the  little  girl 
had  been  brought  up  in  church  principles  by  private  instruction. 
Mr.  Ellicott  was  the  local  agent  of  the  Holland  Land  Company  in 
Batavia,  N.  Y.,  and  Paul  Busti  was  the  general  agent  in  Philadelphia. 
The  proprietors  of  the  company  were  liberal  in  their  grants  of  land 
to  all  religious  societies,  and  school  districts,  and  for  roads.  They 
sold  the  land  to  actual  settlers  at  very  low  prices,  and  on  extended 
terms  of  payment.  Five  dollars  was  accepted  by  them  as  the  first 
payment.  They  refused  to  sell  lots  in  Buffalo  unless  the  purchasers 
erected  a  building.  In  the  first  settlements  of  Western  New  York, 
Canadaigua  was  the  official  residence  of  the  agent  and  surveyors 
of  the  different  land  companies,  and  afterwards  Batavia  became 
the  residence  of  the  surveyors  and  land  agents  of  the  Holland 
Land  Company.  Niagara  County  comprised  what  was  afterwards 
Niagara,  Erie,  Chautauqua  and  Cattaraugus  counties.     Prior  to    1820 


History  of  St.  Paul 's  Church.  1 1 

many  persons,  in  visiting  Western  New  York,  had  letters  of  introduc- 
tion to  the  agent  of  the  Holland  Land  Company.  W.  J.  Walter,  a 
merchant  in  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  under  date  of  October  2,  1816,  writes 
to  Mr.  Ellicott,  recommending  to  his  "  favor  Mr.  Samuel  Johnston,  who 
visits  your  country  on  missionary  purposes,  and,  as  he  is  a  stranger, 
may  stand  in  need  of  information  and  advice.  He  is  a  young  man  of 
the  strictest  integrity." 

In  the  Diocesan  Convention  held  in  Trinity  Church,  New  York, 
October  21,  181 7,  the  certificate  of  incorporation  of  St.  Paul's  Church 
of  Buffalo  was  read,  and  the  said  church  was  received  into  union  with 
the  convention.  The  Rev.  Samuel  Johnston,  deacon  and  missionary  in 
Genesee  and  Niagara  counties,  reported  to  Bishop  Hobart  that  he 
arrived  in  Batavia  October  16,  1816,  and,  agreeable  to  directions,  de- 
voted the  most  of  the  time  there,  officiating  twenty  Sundays  in  Batavia, 
ten  at  Buffalo,  four  at  Le  Roy,  two  at  Sheldon,  and,  at  the  request  of 
some  members  of  the  Church  of  England,  while  at  Buffalo,  crossed 
over  to  the  British  lines  and  held  several  evening  services  at  Fort 
Erie  and  at  Waterloo,  and  baptized  twelve  children.  He  also  reported 
that  on  the  10th  of  February,  181 7,  he  organized  a  church  in  the 
flourishing  village  of  Buffalo,  by  the  name  of  St.  Paul's  Church  in  Buf- 
falo, and  that  about  twenty  families  attached  themselves  to  it.  He 
further  reported  their  readiness  to  cooperate  with  his  exertions,  and 
that  their  animated  zeal  was  truly  praiseworthy.  Five  thousand  dollars 
were  immediately  subscribed  towards  building  a  church,  but  being- 
disappointed  in  receiving  payment  for  the  losses  of  their  buildings  in 
the  recent  war,  the  work  was  deferred.  They  still  continued  zealous. 
Mr.  Johnston  having  returned  to  the  East,  the  Rev.  George  H.  Norton, 
deacon,  reported  to  Bishop  Hobart  that  he  had  officiated  four  times 
at  Buffalo.  The  salary  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Johnston  as  missionary 
was  paid  from  funds  procured  by  the  New  York  "  Protestant  Episco- 
pal Society  of  Young  Men."  On  the  23d  of  October,  18 17,  Bishop 
Hobart  admitted  the  Rev.  Samuel  Johnston  to  the  order  of  priests,  and 
he  afterwards  removed  to  Ohio,  by  letters  dimissory  from  the  bishop. 


12  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

We  thus  see  that  St.  Paul's  Church,  Buffalo,  and  other  parishes  in 
Western  New  York  really  owe  their  origin  to  the  missionary  efforts 
and  zeal  of  Bishop  Hobart.  In  September,  1817,  he  visited  St.  Paul's 
Church,  Buffalo,  and  reported  to  the  convention  of  1818  that  the  Rev. 
William  A.  Clark,  for  several  years  missionary  at  Manlius,  Onondaga 
County,  N.Y.,  had  removed  to  Buffalo,  and  was  also  employed  in  Batavia, 
N.  Y.;  and  the  Rev.  Alanson  Welton,  missionary  in  Ontario  County, 
N.  Y.,  reported  to  the  bishop  that  he  had  spent  eight  Sundays  in 
Buffalo. 

In  the  convention  of  1819  the  bishop  reported  that  the  annual 
stipend  allowed  to  each  missionary  was  only  $175,  the  remainder  of 
their  support  depending  on  the  contributions  of  the  congregations 
among  whom  they  officiated. 

The  collections  in  the  Diocese  of  New  York,  as  reported  to  the 
convention  for  the  year  ending  October  1,  1819,  were  only  $1,475.10, 
of  which  Trinity  Church  and  its  two  chapels  in  the  City  of  New  York 
contributed  $326.76.  The  Episcopate  fund  as  invested  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  Episcopate  was  only  $19,650.17.  The  bishop  derived  his 
support  from  Trinity  Church,  New  York,  as  its  rector.  In  1819  the 
population  of  the  City  of  New  York  was  only  about  122,000. 


I8l8. 

At  the  annual  election  of  wardens  and  vestrymen  of  St.  Paul's 
Church,  held  at  the  house  of  Elias  Ransom,  March  23,  1818, 
Dr.  Josiah  Trowbridge  was  chosen  chairman,  Isaac  Q.  Leake  and 
Henry  M.  Campbell  were  elected  wardens,  and  John  S.  Larned, 
Sheldon  Thompson,  Elias  Ransom,  John  G.  Camp,  Jonas  Harrison, 
Josiah  Trowbridge,  William  J.  Caldwell  and  Staley  N.  Clarke 
vestrymen. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  state  that  George  W.  Doane,  afterwards 
Bishop  of   New  Jersey,  was  a  candidate  for  orders  in  the  diocese  of 


The    Right   Reverend    JOHN     HEXRY     HOBART.    D.  D. 

Third  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  New  York  (State). 

Born,  1775  ;   Consecrated,  181 1  ;   Died,  1830. 

From  the  engraving  by  J.  \V.  Paradise 
after  the  painting  by  J.  Paradise,  published 
in  "The  Evergreen"  for  December,  1844. 


History  of  St.  Pau/'s  Church.  13 

New  York  in  181 8,  and  that  William  H.  DeLancey,  afterwards  Bishop 
of  Western  New  York,  was  also  a  candidate  for  orders  in  the  Diocese 
of  New  York  in  1S19. 

Doctor  Cyrenius  Chapin  was  not  present  at  the  organization  of  St. 
Paul's  Church.  He  and  his  family  were  then  residing  temporarily  in 
Geneva,  N.  Y.,  but  returned  to  Buffalo  in  1819.  He  was  one  of  the 
brave  defenders  of  Buffalo  at  its  burning  by  the  British  in  December, 
1813.  George  and  Thaddeus  Weed  were  in  the  congregation  in  1819. 
Thaddeus  Weed  afterwards  married  Louisa  M.,  the  daughter  of  Doctor 
Chapin,  and  she  has  been  a  parishioner  since  1818.* 

Subscription  for  building  the  church  edifice  in  Buffalo,  1818  : 

"We,  whose  names  are  subscribed,  promise  to  pay,  when  called  on, 
to  the  wardens  and  vestry  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Buffalo,  the  respective 
sums  marked  opposite  our  names,  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  church 
in  the  village  of  Buffalo,  during  the  present  season,  and  when  said 
church  shall  have  been  completed  we  are  to  be  reimbursed  the  said 
sums  by  the  sales  of  the  pews  and  seats  in  said  church. 

Cyrenius  Chapin, $150.00  Charles  Philips, $4.00 

Jonas  Harrison,         100.00  William  C.  House, 25.00 

William  J.  Caldwell,     ....  50.00  Joseph     Ellicott,     for      Holland 

G.  and  T.  Weed, 50.00              Land  Co., 200.00 

John  S.  Lamed, 50.00  Joseph  Ellicott,  for  the   Holland 

John  G.  Camp, 100.00              Co.,  Niagara  Bank  money,     .  300.00 

Ebenezer  Johnson 50.00  William  Mason, 1.00 

Henry  Kip, 50.00  Smith  H.  Salisbury,      ....  50.00 

Ebenezer  Reed, 20.00  John  Lay,  Jr., 100.00 

Erastus  Gilbert, 20.00  Oliver  Forward, 100.00 

Nathaniel  Vosburg,       ....  20.00  H.  M.  Campbell, 50.00 

John  Root, 50.00  James  Sheldon, 50.00 

Elias  Ransom, 100.00  F.  B.  Merrill, 50.00 

Joseph  Landon, 25.00  Sylvester  Matthews,       ....  20.00 

$  1,785.00 


*  Mrs.  Louisa  M.  Weed  died  July  20,  1894.      (See  page  199.) 


14  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

1819. 

May  20,  1819,  Joseph  Ellicott,  agent  of  the  Holland  Land  Com- 
pany, informed  the  vestry  of  St.  Paul's  that,  having  been  called  on  by 
Doctor  Cyrenius  Chapin  for  a  deed  of  a  lot  in  the  village  of  Buffalo,  and 
he  having  selected  lot  42  on  which  to  build  the  church,  a  conveyance 
of  the  lot  would  be  made  to  the  vestry  whenever  the  agent  should  be 
assured  or  satisfied  that  the  building  would  be  erected.  This  is  the 
lot  now  owned  by  the  parish,  and  is  bounded  by  Main,  Erie,  Church 
and  Pearl  streets.  The  corner  stone  of  St.  Paul's  Church  was  laid  by 
Doctor  Cyrenius  Chapin,  with  Masonic  ceremonies,  June  24,  1819. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Clark  read  the  church  service.  The  silver  plate 
placed  in  the  corner  stone  in  1819  was  found  in  perfect  preservation 
when  the  foundation  of  the  new  church  edifice  was  laid  in  1850. 

November  23,  1819,  the  vestry  appointed  Oliver  Forward  to  draft 
a  letter  to  Paul  Busti  of  Philadelphia,  the  general  agent  of  the  Holland 
Land  Company,  to  be  sent  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Clark,  soliciting  of  him 
pecuniary  assistance  for  building  the  church.  At  the  same  meeting  it 
was  resolved  that  the  committee  proceed  to  enclose  the  building  and  lay 
the  floor,  and  that  the  windows  and  the  tower  be  of  the  Gothic  order. 

In  1818  Joseph  Ellicott,  as  agent  of  the  Holland  Land  Company, 
donated  to  St.  Paul's  Church  $500,  of  which  $300  was  in  the  notes  of 
the  suspended  Niagara  Bank  of  Buffalo,  which  afterwards  became 
entirely  insolvent.  The  village  newspaper  mentioned  the  donation  as 
unworthy  of  the  company,  and  made  uncalled-for  insinuations  relative 
thereto,  but  omitted  to  state  that  $200  was  also  donated  in  good  money, 
and  also  a  valuable  lot  on  which  to  build  the  church.  Mr.  Busti  and  Mr. 
Ellicott  naturally  thought  that  members  of  the  vestry  had  given  the 
partial  information  to  the  editor,  and  both  were  indignant  at  the  mis- 
representations in  the  newspaper  article.  In  February,  1820,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Clark  presented  Mr.  Forward's  letter  to  Mr.  Busti  in  Philadelphia, 
but  was  met  by  an    angry  reference    to  the  newspaper  article.     Mr. 


— ^'**  /  £&  - ,   /?*/,■   -,  y ■  y  -  -^/  - 
/5dL*3£&  ^^ .->*  ^  ,er*^^ yL/*s~-s£-  c*^.<*.-~*£ ;*y^£.- 

<*nsT*~    ■*■*■*-&  ^A-*-<S     -^ia  i/, 


*L^.   £^&  2 


^ 


REDUCED     FACSIMILE     OF     AUTOGRAPH     LETTER     FROM     JOSEPH     ELLICOTT 
To  the  Vestry.  May  20,  1819,  in  regard  to  St.  Paul's  lot.     (See  pages  14.  174.) 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  15 

Clark  assured  him  that  the  vestry  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  pub- 
lication, and  disavowed  the  aspersions  therein.  Doctor  Cyrenius 
Chapin,  the  senior  warden,  wrote  to  Mr.  Ellicott  under  date  June  16, 
1820,  also  disavowing  the  offensive  article.  The  happy  result  of  these 
explanations  was  that  the  Holland  Land  Company  made  an  addi- 
tional donation  of  $200.  The  $300  Niagara  Bank  money  sold  for 
$116.  As  small  as  these  sums  may  appear  to  us,  they  were  very 
acceptable  to  the  then  vestry. 

They  found  it  difficult  to  get  sufficient  money  to  so  far  complete  the 
church  as  to  occupy  it  for  public  worship,  and  on  the  8th  of  April, 
1820,  they  passed  a  resolution  appointing  Cyrenius  Chapin,  Josiah 
Trowbridge,  and  H.  M.  Campbell  a  committee  to  secure  proposals  from 
the  Presbyterian  Society  relative  to  furnishing  means  for  finishing  St. 
Paul's  Church. 

At  the  annual  election  of  wardens  and  vestrymen,  held  at  the 
district  school-house  on  Niagara  near  Pearl  Street,  May  19,  1819, 
Doctor  Cyrenius  Chapin  and  Henry  M.  Campbell  were  elected  wardens, 
and  Josiah  Trowbridge,  Elias  Ransom,  John  G.  Camp,  Oliver  Forward, 
Jonas  Harrison,  Sheldon  Thompson,  William  J.  Caldwell,  and  Smith 
H.  Salisbury  were  elected  vestrymen.  Frederick  B.  Merrill  was 
appointed  clerk  of  the  vestry. 

l820. 

At  the  annual  election,  held  at  the  house  of  John  G.  Camp,  April 
3,  1S20,  Doctor  Cyrenius  Chapin  and  Henry  M.  Campbell  were  elected 
wardens,  and  Elias  Ransom,  Oliver  Forward,  Sheldon  Thompson, 
Smith  H.  Salisbury,  John  G.  Camp,  Josiah  Trowbridge,  George  Weed, 
and  Henry  Kip  were  elected  vestrymen.  Roswell  Chapin  was  appointed 
clerk  of  the  vestry. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  parish  of  St.  Paul's  the  choir  was  composed 
of  Jacob  A.  Barker,  Doctor  Josiah  Trowbridge,  and  Stephen  G.  Austin, 
with  a  few  of  the  ladies  of  the  congregation. 


1 6  History  of  St.  Pau/'s  Church. 

As  before  stated,  the  first  church  service  was  held  in  the  house  of  Elias 
Ransom  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Main  and  Huron  streets,  and  after- 
wards in  the  Eagle  tavern  on  the  west  side  of  Main  Street,  south  of  Court 
Street,  and  after  that  in  the  district  school-house  on  Niagara  Street  near 
Main.  The  Rev.  William  A.  Clark  officiated  in  the  district  school-house, 
and  when  the  church  edifice  was  ready  for  occupancy,  in  1820,  he  was  the 
first  to  officiate  in  it.  It  was  a  frame  building  forty-four  feet  wide  by  sixty 
feet  in  depth,  and  the  tower  was  twenty-five  feet  high  from  the  square. 
It  cost  $5,000,  and  the  front  of  the  edifice  was  parallel  with  Main  Street, 
and  distant  about  seventy-five  feet  from  the  western  line  thereof.* 

When  it  was  ready  for  occupancy,  the  debt  on  it  was  $3,500.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Clark  was  indefatigable  in  his  exertions  to  get  this  debt  re- 
moved. He  visited  Batavia,  N.  Y.,  and  received  $25  from  David  E. 
Evans,  and  in  Canandaigua  he  obtained  $25  from  John  Gregg,  the  land 
agent,  and  $25  from  John  C.  Spencer,  then  one  of  the  rising  lawyers  of 
Ontario  County,  and  also  a  contribution  from  Gideon  Granger.  He  also 
received  considerable  sums  in  Albany  and  in  New  York,  in  all  about  $890, 
out  of  which  was  deducted  $150  for  his  traveling  expenses  to  and  from 
Philadelphia  ;  and,  as  before  stated,  $200  were  also  received  from  Paul 
Busti,  the  general  agent  of  the  Holland  Land  Company.  These  subscrip- 
tions, with  temporary  loans  from  George  and  Thaddeus  Weed  for  $150, 
Aaron  James  $300,  and  George  Keese  for  $150,  enabled  the  vestry  to  pay 
up  the  most  pressing  demands  ;  but  it  was  not  until  1826  that  these  loans 
were  repaid. 

April  23,  182 1,  Judge  Oliver  Forward  was  appointed  treasurer  of  the 
parish  by  the  vestry.  Although  the  term  "  treasurer  "  occurs  in  earlier 
records,  this  is  the  first  mention  of  a  formal  appointment  to  that  office. 

The  first  sale  of  pews  in  the  frame  edifice  took  place  on  Novem- 
ber 24,  1820  ;  and  it  being  the  first  building  for  religious  worship 
erected  in  the  village,  it  was  thought  that  Presbyterians  and  others 
would  purchase  pews,  provided  they  were  not  taxed  for  the  support 
of  the  parish,  and  accordingly  the  vestry  decided  not  to  tax  them, 
but  to  rely  on  the  subscriptions  of  the  congregation   to  pay  the  rector 

*The  curve  known  as  "  Ellicott's  Bow-window,"  brought  Main  Street  much  nearer 
to  the  church,  at  this  time.  The  edifice  stood  about  seventy-five  feet  west  of  the  curved 
roadway,  and  about  fifty  feet  inside  of  the  lot  line  or  west  boundary  of  Willink  Avenue 
(Main  Street,  south  of  Church  Street).  See  map  opposite;  also  pages  219  to  221, 
and  plan  of  lot  opposite  page  254. 


(Note,  page  16,  twenty-ninth  line  from  top.) 
St.  Paul's  was  the  first  church  edifice  of  a  permanent  character  erected  in  the 
Village  of  Buffalo.  The  little  frame  meeting-house  which  was  built  in  a  few  weeks' 
time  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Society,  on  leased  land  on  the  west  side  of  Pearl 
Street,  south  of  Niagara  Street,  is  said  to  have  been  finished  January  24,  1819,  but 
the  building  and  site  were  only  temporarily  occupied  by  them. 


MAP    OF    BUFFALO    VILLAGE. 

Cctapiled  from  Joseph  Ellicott's  survey  of  New  Amsterdam  in  1804  for  the  Holland  Land  Company, 

and  from  S.  Ball's  plan  of  Buffalo  in  1825.     (See  pages  16,  19,  174,  220,  254.) 


Plate  used  by  courtesy  of  "The  Buffalo  Express." 


History  of  St.  Paul's  CJiurcJi.  17 

and  other  expenses.    This  non-taxation  soon  proved  to  be  an  ill-advised 
measure,  and  continued  to  be  so  for  many  succeeding  years. 

The  edifice*  standing  parallel  with  Main  Street,  and  the  front 
entrance  being  about  75  feet  from  the  west  line  thereof,  the  vestry 
placed  the  chancel  at  the  west  end,  and  pews  1  and  3  were  on  the  north 
side  of  the  chancel,  and  pews  2  and  4  were  on  the  south  side  thereof. 
The  two  aisles  were  on  each  side  of  the  center  of  the  church,  and 
extended  from  the  vestibule  to  the  chancel.  Pews  1, 3, 5, 7,  9, 11, 13  and 
15  were  on  the  north  side  of  the  north  aisle,  and  pews  17,  19,  21,  23,  25, 
27,  29>  3 1>  33,  35.37  and  39  were  on  the  south  side  of  the  north  aisle,  and 
pews  2,  4,  6,  8,  10,  12,  14  and  16  were  on  the  south  side  of  the  south 
aisle,  and  pews  16,  20,  22,  24,  26,  28,  30,  32,  34,  36,  38  and  40  were  on 
the  north  side  of  the  south  aisle.  Pews  17  and  18  were  immediately 
in  front  of  the  chancel.  There  were  40  pews  in  all,  capable  of  seating 
between  two  and  three  hundred  persons.  The  first  sales  were  to  Hor- 
ace Cunningham,  who  occupied  No.  2  ;  Henry  M.  Campbell,  No.  4  ; 
Doctor  Cyrenius  Chapin,  No.  6  ;  Sylvester  Matthews,  No.  8  ;  Jesse 
D.  Hoyt,  No.  10  ;  W.  Stacy,  No.  16  ;  Mr.  Merrill,  No.  18  ;  Mr.  Guiteau, 
No.  20  ;  John  G.  Camp,  No.  22  ;  Roswell  Chapin,  No.  24  ;  David  M. 
Day,  No  26  ;  M.  Marvin,  No.  17  ;  Doctor  Trowbridge,  No.  19  ;  Aaron 
James,  No.  21  ;  Mr.  Guild,  No.  23  ;  Mr.  Stone,  No.  27  ;  Henry  Kip, 
No.  1  ;  Elias  Ransom,  No.  3  ;  Oliver  Forward,  No.  5  ;  Mr.  Salisbury, 
No.  7  ;  Ebenezer  Walden,  No.  9  ;  James  Sweeney,  No.  39  ;  (James 
Sweeney,  who  was  in  the  Vestry  for  several  years  subsequent  to  1866, 
is  the  son  of  the  James  Sweeney  here  mentioned.) 

The  first  sales  amounted  to  $2,951.  The  lowest  sale  was  for  $51, 
and  the  highest,  $184. 

In  these  early  days  the  mouth  of  Buffalo  Creek  was  mostly 
obstructed  by  a  sand  bar,  and  the  shipping  in  Lake  Erie  was  from  Black 
Rock.  Goods  for  Buffalo  came  from  New  York  to  Albany,  thence 
along  the  Mohawk,  thence  to  Oswego,  and  by  Lake  Ontario  to  Lewis- 

*  See  reproduction  of  drawing  of  the  old  church,  and  floor  plan  of  same  in  this 
volume. 


1 8  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

ton,  N.  Y.,  and  thence  by  land  carriage  to  Schlosser  just  above  the 
Falls  of  Niagara,  thence  by  boat  along  the  Niagara  River  to  Black 
Rock,  and  thence  by  land  along  the  present  Niagara  Street  to  the  vil- 
lage of  Buffalo.  This  continued  to  be  the  route  until  the  opening  of 
the  Erie  Canal  in  October,  1825.  The  business  of  Buffalo  was  there- 
fore much  circumscribed  previous  to  1825,  and  the  resources  of  the 
congregation  by  no  means  enabled  them  to  sufficiently  support  a  min- 
ister, or  to  fully  complete  the  church  edifice.  In  July,  1818,  the 
expenses  of  the  parish,  including  the  support  of  Rev.  William  A.  Clark, 
the  rector,  were  paid  by  subscription,  as  follows  :  Jonas  Harrison,  $50  ; 
John  G.  Camp,  $50  ;  Josiah  Trowbridge,  $30  ;  William  J.  Caldwell, 
$50  ;  Isaac  Q.  Leake,  $30  ;  Elias  Ransom,  $30  ;  Frederick  B.  Merrill, 
$30  ;  George  Badger,  $10  ;  Robert  Gilmore,  $10  ;  John  Bigdon,  $3  ; 
G.  and  T.  Weed,  $10  ;  J.  W.  Moulton,  $10  ;  Staley  N.  Clark,  $15  ; 
John  A.  Coffin,  $15  ;  James  Sheldon,  $5.  In  all  $348,  to  which  was 
added  the  missionary  stipend  of  $175,  making  the  sum  of  $523. 

In  1819  only  $287  was  subscribed  in  addition  to  the  stipend.  Among 
the  new  subscribers  this  year  were  Dr.  Cyrenius  Chapin,  $40  ;  Sylvester 
Marvin,  $10  ;  J.  Cunningham,  $5  ;  Smith  H.  Salisbury,  $20  ;  H.  A.  Salis- 
bury, $5  ;  Henry  Kip,  $10  ;  John  Root,  $12  ;  Moses  Baker,  $5. 

On  the  7th  of  April,  1820,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Clark  resigned  his  rector- 
ship. He  said  in  his  letter  to  the  vestry  that,  attached  as  he  was  to 
the  members  of  the  congregation  for  their  many  kind  attentions  to 
himself  and  family,  nothing  but  a  conviction  that  he  would  become 
burdensome  to  them,  beyond  their  pecuniary  ability,  would  have  com- 
pelled his  resignation.  He  thought  that  this  assurance  would  prevent 
those  feelings  which  are  apt  to  be  excited  between  a  clergyman  and 
his  parishioners  whenever  their  connection  is  dissolved.  That  the 
extravagance  of  high  rent  and  the  high  price  of  every  necessary  of  life 
since  he  had  been  in  Buffalo  had  exhausted  all  his  private  funds.  The 
vestry  accepted  the  resignation,  and  resolved  to  pay  Mr.  Clark  his 
salary  in  full,  and  adjourned  to  meet  at  "early  candle  lighting"  at  the 
Niagara  Bank  on  April  22d.    They  then  resolved  that  a  committee  con- 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  19 

sisting  of  Dr.  Cyrenius  Chapin  and  Dr.  Josiah  Trowbridge  be  appointed 
to  wait  on  the  Rev.  Deodatus  Babcock,  and  confer  with  him  on  the  sub- 
ject of  his  becoming  the  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  and  to  offer  him 
the  salary  of  $300,  and  that  Smith  H.  Salisbury  be  a  committee  to  cir- 
culate a  subscription  for  the  purpose  of  raising  the  amount. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Babcock  subsequently  signified  his  acceptance  of 
the  charge  of  the  parish,  as  rector.  He  was  married  on  the  14th  of 
May,  182 1,  to  Miss  Mary  Hine  of  Cairo,  Greene  County,  N.  Y.,  and 
resided  in  a  frame  house  on  the  westerly  side  of  Erie  Street,  between 
Pearl  and  Swan  Streets.  The  Rev.  William  A.  Clark  became  the 
rector  of  Christ  Church,  Ballston  Springs,  Saratoga  County,  N.  Y.,  and 
in  1825  he  was  rector  of  All  Saints'  Church  in  New  York. 

On  the  2d  of  June,  1820,  the  wardens  and  vestrymen  addressed 
a  communication  to  Joseph  Ellicott,  agent  of  the  Holland  Land  Com- 
pany in  Batavia,  N.  Y.,  stating  that  they  had  complied  with  his  condi- 
tions to  erect  the  church  edifice  on  the  lot  the  company  proposed  to 
deed  to  them,  and  requested  him  to  convey  them  the  lot  in  fee  simple. 
He  accordingly  deeded  them  lot  number  42  in  the  village  of  Buffalo. 
Although  the  Holland  Land  Company  was  so  called,  yet  the  title  of 
the  land  was  held  individually  by  the  proprietors,  and  a  fairer  or  more 
liberal  land  company  never  existed.  Their  deed  to  St.  Paul's  Church 
is  recorded  in  Niagara,  now  Erie,  County  Clerk's  office  in  Liber  6  of 
Deeds  at  page  247,  and  dated  June  14,  1820. 

It  recites  that  "Wilhem  Willink,  Hendrik  Vollenhoven,  Rutger 
Jan  Schimmelpenninck,  Wilhem  Willink  the  younger,  Jan  Willink,  the 
younger  son  of  Jan,  Jan  Gabriel  Van  Staphorst,  Cornells  Vollenhoven 
and  Hendrik  Seye,  all  of  the  City  of  Amsterdam,  in  the  Kingdom  of 
the  United  Netherlands,  by  Joseph  Ellicott  their  attorney,  of  the  first 
part,  convey  to  the  Wardens  and  Vestrymen  of  St.  Paul's  Church  in 
the  village  of  Buffalo,  in  the  County  of  Niagara  and  State  of  New 
York,  of  the  second  part,  lot  42."  A  diagram  of  the  lot  is  drawn  on 
the  deed,  and  the  bounds  are  given  as  fronting  on  Standiska  Avenue, 
now  Church  Street ;  South  Cayuga  Street,  now  Pearl  Street ;  Vollen- 


20  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

hoven's  Avenue,  now  Erie  Street,  and  the  front  is  given  as  Willink 
Avenue,  now  Main  Street.  On  this  commanding  yet  retired  lot  now 
stands  the  beautiful  church  edifice  of  St.  Paul's,  consecrated  in  1851, 
and  on  a  part  of  it  stood  the  frame  edifice,  consecrated  in  1821. 


I82I. 

February  20,  1821,  the  vestry  purchased  from  Jeremiah  Staats,  a 
Communion  table  for  $20,  and  three  stools  for  $7.50. 

The  church  edifice  was  consecrated  February  25,  182 1,  by  Bishop 
Hobart. 

He  signed  the  instrument  of  consecration  in  the  following  words  : 
"  Whereas  the  Wardens  and  Vestrymen  of  St.  Paul's  Church  in  the 
village  of  Buffalo,  County  of  Niagara  and  State  of  New  York,  by  an 
instrument  to  me  presented,  did  appropriate  a  building  erected  in  the 
village  of  Buffalo,  County  of  Niagara  and  State  of  New  York,  to  the 
worship  of  Almighty  God,  according  to  the  Liturgy,  Rites  and  Ordi- 
nances of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of 
America,  and  did  request  me  to  set  apart  and  consecrate  it  accord- 
ingly. Be  it  therefore  known  that  I,  John  Henry  Hobart,  Bishop  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  State  of  New  York,  have  on  this 
25th  day  of  February,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  182 1,  being  Sexagesima 
Sunday,  consecrated  a  Building  in  the  village  of  Buffalo,  County  of 
Niagara  and  State  of  New  York,  by  the  name  of  St.  Paul's  Church, 
and  with  the  prescribed  rites  and  solemnities  have  separated  it  hence- 
forth from  all  unhallowed,  worldly  and  common  uses,  and  dedicated  it 
to  the  service  of  Almighty  God,  for  reading  His  Holy  word,  for  cele- 
brating His  Holy  Sacraments,  for  offering  to  His  glorious  Majesty  the 
sacrifices  of  prayer  and  thanksgiving,  for  blessing  the  people  in  His 
name  and  for  the  performance  of  all  holy  offices,  according  to  the 
Liturgy  and  Rites  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United 
States  of  America. 


History  of  St.  Paul 's  Church.  2 1 

"  In  testimony  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  the 
day  and  year  above  written,  and  in  the  tenth  year  of  my  consecration." 

The  instrument  of  consecration  is  signed  "  John  Henry  Hobart," 
and  is  sealed  with  a  seal  having  his  initials  engraved  thereon.  During 
his  visitation  Bishop  Hobart  confirmed  twenty  persons  in  St.  Paul's 
Church. 

At  the  annual  election  of  wardens  and  vestrymen,  held  in  the 
church  edifice  on  April  23,  1S21,  the  Rev.  Deodatus  Babcock  presided, 
Henry  M.  Campbell  and  Henry  Kip  were  elected  wardens,  and  Smith 
H.  Salisbury,  Oliver  Forward,  Elias  Ransom,  Sheldon  Thompson, 
George  Weed,  Aaron  James,  Absalom  Bull  and  Horace  Cunningham 
were  elected  vestrymen.  Roswell  Chapin  was  appointed  clerk  of  the 
vestry  and  Oliver  Forward,  treasurer. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  April  23,  1821,  it  was  "  resolved  that  the 
church  adopt  as  its  common  seal  a  marble  eight-sided  cone,  whereon 
is  engraved  the  letters  'St.  Paul's  Church,  Buffalo.'" 

The  fourth  of  July,  182 1,  was  celebrated  in  the  village  of  Buffalo 
by  a  procession  which  marched  to  St.  Paul's  Church,  and  was  there 
"  joined  by  a  concourse  of  ladies  and  gentlemen."  The  Rev.  Deodatus 
Babcock  officiated  in  the  performance  of  the  services,  the  Declaration 
of  Independence  was  read,  and  appropriate  remarks  were  made  by 
Charles  Townsend.  The  village  newspaper,  the  "Buffalo  Patriot"  of 
July  10,  182 1,  says  :  "  The  company  then  repaired  to  a  bower  erected 
on  the  banks  of  the  Lake  and  Creek  and  took  tea  at  a  party  given  by 
the  ladies,  by  whose  exertions  in  display  of  taste  and  elegance  the  scene 
was  rendered  peculiarly  interesting,  and  the  time  was  spent  with  much 
pleasure  and  cheerfulness." 

At  this  time  St.  Paul's  Church  was  the  only  public  building  of  any 
note  in  the  village.  In  the  summer  of  1821  the  bell  purchased  of 
Horatio  Hark  was  placed  in  the  tower,  but  was  not  fully  paid  for  until 
1825.  August  22,  1821,  Bishop  Hobart  visited  St.  Paul's  Church  and 
admitted  the  Rev.  Deodatus  Babcock  to  the  Holy  Order  of  Priests, 
and  confirmed  four  persons. 


22  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

l822. 

In  1822,  Bishop  Hobart  sent  the  Rev.  David  Brown  as  a  missionary 
to  Chautauqua  County,  N.  Y.;  he  established  parishes  in  Fredonia, 
Westfield  and  Mayville  in  that  county. 

At  the  annual  election  on  the  8th  of  April,  1822,  Henry  M. 
Campbell  and  Henry  Kip  were  elected  wardens,  and  Elias  Ransom, 
Oliver  Forward,  Joseph  D.  Hoyt,  Smith  H.  Salisbury,  Sheldon  Thomp- 
son, Horace  Cunningham,  George  Weed  and  Henry  Hamilton,  vestry- 
men. At  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  vestry  Roswell  Chapin,  then 
clerk,  was  directed  to  call  on  the  Rev.  Mr.  Babcock,  and  inform  him 
of  the  amount  of  the  subscription  for  his  support  for  the  ensuing 
year.  On  the  24th  of  May,  1822,  Mr.  Babcock  addressed  a  letter  to  the 
vestry  stating  that  the  amount  fell  considerably  short  of  what  it  was  the 
preceding  year,  and  as  he  was  willing  to  make  sacrifice  for  the  good  of 
the  church  in  Buffalo,  he  made  the  proposition  that  he  be  paid  fifty- 
five  dollars  at  the  end  of  every  quarter,  and  fire-wood  for  his  family 
use,  and  on  these  terms  he  would  continue  with  the  parish  for  six 
months  ;  and  if  at  the  end  of  that  time  he  found  his  income  equal  to 
his  expenses  he  would  continue  to  the  end  of  the  year  for  the  same 
quarterly  fund. 

The  vestry  accepted  his  proposition.  In  addition  he  had  the  mis- 
sionary stipend  of  $175.  This  stipend  was  of  very  great  assistance  in 
the  early  days  of  the  parish. 

1823. 

It  was  customary  for  the  Holland  Land  Company  to  donate  one 
hundred  acres  of  land  to  the  first  religious  society  in  any  of  the  county 
towns  that  built  an  edifice  for  worship,  and  it  was  usually  called  the 
"  Gospel  Lot,"  and  was  meant  for  the  support  of  the  minister  ;  accord- 
ingly,  on  the   7th  of    March,   1823,  the  vestry  resolved  to  apply  to 


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History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  23 

Jacob  S.  Otto,  the  then  local  agent  of  the  company  in  Batavia, 
N.  Y.,  for  a  conveyance  of  one  hundred  acres  in  the  town  of  Buffalo, 
St.  Paul's  Church  being  entitled  to  it,  according  to  the  rules  and  regu- 
lations of  the  company.  Mr.  Otto  had  succeeded  to  the  agency  in  182 1, 
on  the  resignation  of  Joseph  Ellicott.  On  the  21st  of  April,  1823, 
Mr.  Otto  replied  that  it  was  not  probable  that  any  further  assistance 
would  be  given  to  the  church  in  Buffalo. 

March  31,  1823,  at  the  annual  election  of  wardens  and  vestrymen, 
the  Rev.  Deodatus  Babcock  presiding,  Henry  M.  Campbell  and  George 
B.  Webster  were  elected  wardens,  and  Joseph  D.  Hoyt,  Elias  Ransom, 
Smith  H.  Salisbury,  Thomas  B.  Clarke,  Sheldon  Ball,  Lester  Brace, 
Jacob  A.  Barker  and  John  G.  Camp,  vestrymen.  Roswell  Chapin  was 
chosen  clerk  of  the  vestry. 

May  5,  1823,  the  pews  in  the  new  Presbyterian  Church  (the  old 
First)  were  sold  at  auction. 

The  first  contribution  from  St.  Paul's  Church,  as  reported  to  the 
convention,  was  $4.50  to  the  Diocesan  fund  in  1823. 

October,  1823,  St.  Paul's  Church  was  represented  in  the  Diocesan 
Convention  in  the  city  of  New  York,  by  the  Rev.  Deodatus  Babcock. 

1824. 

March  2,  1824,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Babcock  having  expressed  to  the  ves- 
try that  at  the  expiration  of  his  engagement  he  intended  to  resign  his 
office  as  rector,  it  was  resolved  that  while  the  vestry  lamented  the 
necessity  which  would  deprive  them  of  his  services,  they  felt  it  to  be 
their  duty  to  adopt  measures  to  secure  the  regular  stated  services  of 
the  church.  They  accordingly  appointed  a  committee  to  correspond 
with  the  standing  Committee  of  the  Diocese  of  New  York,  on  the  sub- 
ject of  supplying  a  continuance  of  those  services. 

The  Rev.  Deodatus  Babcock  afterwards  became  the  missionary 
rector  at  Ballston  Springs  and  Saratoga  Springs,  Saratoga,  N.  Y.,  and 


24  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

remained  at  Ballston  Springs  for  many  years.  He  revisited  Buffalo  in 
October,  185 1,  after  an  absence  of  twenty-seven  years,  and  was  present 
and  assisted  in  the  consecration  of  the  new  edifice  of  St.  Paul's  in  that 
month.  After  the  services  he  remained  and  viewed  the  marked  con- 
trast between  182 1  and  185 1,  for  he  was  at  the  consecration  of  the  old 
edifice  in  182 1,  as  the  then  rector.  Out  of  the  large  congregation  in 
185 1  there  were  none  of  the  clergy,  except  himself,  who  were  present 
in  182 1,  and  not  more  than  ten  of  his  former  parishioners,  which  few 
greeted  him  with  warm  affection. 

April  19,  1824,  at  the  annual  election  for  wardens  and  vestrymen, 
George  B.  Webster  and  Henry  M.  Campbell  were  elected  wardens,  and 
Elias  Ransom,  John  B.  Camp,  Joseph  D.  Hoyt,  Smith  H.  Salisbury, 
Sheldon  Ball,  Jacob  A.  Barker,  Josiah  Trowbridge  and  Manly  Colton, 
vestrymen. 

The  earliest  records  of  the  Sunday  School  of  the  Parish  date  from 
18 1 8  to  1848,  and  show  that  some  of  the  children  of  the  original 
parishioners,  as  well  as  the  children  of  the  residents  of  the  village,  were 
taught  by  the  rector.  The  school  continued  to  increase  until  1824  ;  it 
then  had  twenty  scholars,  became  a  more  permanent  institution, 
and  continued  to  be  instrumental  in  the  future  growth  of  the  parish. 

July  2,  1824,  the  vestry  resolved  that  after  taking  into  consideration 
the  reduced  state  as  to  members  in  Buffalo,  it  was  inexpedient  to  make 
any  further  provisions  for  the  regular  supply  of  the  church  services. 

According  to  the  village  newspaper,  the  Fourth  of  July,  1824,  was 
celebrated  by  forming  a  procession  at  Rathbun's  Eagle  tavern,  and 
marching  to  St.  Paul's  Church,  where  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
was  read  by  Charles  Townsend,  and  an  appropriate  and  eloquent 
address  was  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Crawford  to  a  very  numerous 
and  attentive  audience  ;  the  singing  was  performed  in  a  creditable 
style  by  the  choir,  and  was  highly  gratifying  to  all.  There  was  no 
rector  of  St.  Paul's  at  that  date,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Crawford  was  the 
Presbyterian  minister. 

Grace  Church  at  Black  Rock  was  organized  August  10,  1824. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  25 

August  28,  1824,  the  vestry  authorized  the  calling  of  the  Rev.  J.  L. 
Yeonnet  (pronounced  Evaret)  of  Troy,  N.  Y.,  to  the  rectorship.  He 
accepted  the  call,  and  was  on  his  way  to  Buffalo,  to  take  charge  of  the 
parish,  but  died  at  Skaneateles,  Onondaga  County,  N.  Y.,  on  the  21st 
of  September,  1824.  He  was  twenty-two  years  of  age  and  was  said  to 
have  been  a  young  man  of  excellent  education  and  fine  abilities. 


1825. 

March  1,  1825,  the  vestry  entertaining  a  high  opinion  of  the  piety, 
talents  and  exemplary  manner  of  the  Rev.  Addison  Searle,  and  believ- 
ing that  it  would  greatly  advance  the  interests  of  the  church  if  he  could 
be  prevailed  upon  to  become  its  rector,  resolved  unanimously  that  they 
promise  to  pay  him  $525  per  annum,  and  if  the  subscription  exceeded 
that  amount  it  should  be  added  to  that  sum,  and  the  wardens  were 
instructed  to  request  his  acceptance  of  the  rectorship. 

At  the  same  time  a  subscription  was  commenced  for  the  purpose  of 
purchasing  an  organ  for  the  church,  and  the  following  sums  were  sub- 
scribed :  Sheldon  Ball,  $20  ;  George  B.  Webster,  $25  ;  Jesse  D.  Hoyt, 
$25;  Josiah  Trowbridge,  $20;  Roswell  Chapin,  $20;  Henry  M. 
Campbell,  $20  ;  Elias  Ransom,  $20  ;  M.  Case  and  son,  $7.50  ;  G.  and 
T.  Weed,  $20  ;  John  G.  Camp,  $20  ;  G.  H.  Goodrich,  $5  ;  John  Root, 
$10  ;  Benjamin  Rathbun,  $10  ;  Alanson  Palmer,  $20  ;  Henry  Hamil- 
ton, $10;  Smith  H.  Salisbury,  $5;  Joseph  Clary,  $2;  R.  Hargrave 
Lee,  $5  ;  S.  G.  Austin,  $3  ;  M.  M.  Dox,  $5  ;  cash  in  fifteen  different 
items,  $77,  being  a  total  subscription  of  $349.50. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Searle  addressed  a  letter  to  the  wardens  on  the  30th 
of  March,  1825,  accepting  the  rectorship  ;  he  at  once  entered  upon  its 
duties,  and  at  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  on  the  same  day,  he  was 
authorized  and  given  discretionary  power  to  contract  with  any  person 
or  persons  for  the  construction,  transportation  and  putting  up  of  an 
organ  in  the  church. 


26  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

When  the  Rev.  Mr.  Searle  took  charge  of  St.  Paul's  parish  he  was 
thirty-five  years  of  age. 

The  vestry  of  Grace  Church  at  Black  Rock  having  proposed  to 
avail  themselves  of  a  portion  of  the  services  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Searle, 
the  vestry  of  St.  Paul's  agreed  thereto,  on  condition  that  they  pay  $125 
per  annum  for  the  same,  for  one  fourth  of  the  time.  Grace  Church  at 
Black  Rock  had  no  church  edifice,  the  congregation  meeting  in  the 
school-house. 

April  4,  1825,  at  the  annual  election  of  wardens  and  vestrymen,  the 
Rev.  Addison  Searle  presiding,  Henry  M.  Campbell  and  George  B. 
Webster  were  elected  wardens,  and  Elias  Ransom,  Josiah  Trowbridge, 
Manly  Colton,  Joseph  D.  Hoyt,  Guy  H.  Goodrich,  Jacob  A.  Barker, 
Sheldon  Ball  and  John  G.  Camp  vestrymen,  Roswell  Chapin  was 
chosen  clerk,  and  George  B.  Webster  treasurer,  and  on  July  25,  1825, 
Loring  Pierce  was  appointed  sexton  during  the  pleasure  of  the  vestry. 

The  only  baptism  by  immersion  in  the  parish  was  performed  by 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Searle,  and  is  thus  recorded  by  him  :  "  Sarah,  wife  of 
Lawson  Hoyt,  born  in  Temple,  New  Hampshire,  November  18,  1789, 
was  baptized  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie,  by  immersion,  on  the  sixth 
Sunday  after  Trinity,  July  10,  1825.  Witnesses,  Hon.  Henry  M. 
Campbell  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Camp." 

August  13,  1825,  William  James,  having  removed  to  Albany,  N.  Y., 
presented  his  pews,  Nos.  16  and  21,  to  the  church,  and  the  vestry 
returned  their  thanks  to  him  therefor. 

August  22,  1825,  the  organ  recently  placed  in  the  church  by  Hall  & 
Erben  was  accepted,  and  the  treasurer  was  instructed  to  pay  them  $430. 
On  August  27,  1825,  the  vestry  for  the  first  time  appointed  three  dele- 
gates to  represent  the  parish  in  the  Diocese  of  New  York,  to  meet  in 
the  city  of  New  York  in  October,  1825.  Henry  Kip,  David  D.  Aiken 
and  Jacob  A.  Barker  were  appointed. 

In  1825  St.  Paul's  contributed  $5  to  the  Episcopal  fund,  $5  to  the 
Missionary  fund,  and  $4.25  to  the  Diocesan  fund.  The  number  of 
communicants  reported  to  the  convention  was  twenty-seven. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  27 

According  to  the  village  newspaper,  Mr.  Searle  held  the  church 
service  in  St.  Paul's  early  in  September,  1825,  reading  the  morning 
prayers  and  appropriate  Psalms,  at  the  request  of  Major  Mordecai  M. 
Noah  of  the  city  of  New  York,  to  enable  him  to  perform  the  ceremony 
of  laying  the  corner-stone  of  his  proposed  City  of  Ararat  on  Grand 
Island,  by  laying  it  in  St.  Paul's  Church  instead  of  on  the  Island. 
The  church  choir  sang  on  the  occasion,  the  Ante-Communion  service 
was  said,  and  Major  Noah  pronounced  a  discourse  announcing  the  re- 
organization of  the  Jewish  government.  The  whole  enterprise  came 
to  naught  very  soon  afterwards.* 

October  26,  1825,  the  great  Erie  Canal,  "the  golden  stream"  as  it 
has  been  called,  was  opened  from  Buffalo  to  Albany.  This  event  was  the 
advent  of  that  sure  prosperity  which  increased  gradually  with  increas- 
ing years,  not  only  for  Buffalo  but  for  all  Western  New  York,  and  not 
only  for  Western  New  York  but  for  the  whole  State,  and  for  the  great 
West  beyond  Buffalo.  This  prosperity  for  Buffalo  furnished  in  after 
years  the  means  for  the  temporal  well-being  of  the  parish  of  St.  Paul's. 

December  23,  1825,  Cochran  &  Fisher  of  Batavia,  N.  Y.,  contracted 
to  re-cast  the  church  bell  for  a  heavier  one. 


1826. 

January  20,  1826,  the  vestry,  notwithstanding  the  refusal  of  the 
Holland  Land  agent  in  1823,  appointed  the  Rev.  Addison  Searle  and 
Jacob  A.  Barker  a  committee  to  procure  from  the  company  a  "  Glebe 
lot  "  for  the  parish. 

March  3,  1826,  the  vestry  appointed  the  Rev.  Mr.  Searle  and  Dr. 
Josiah  Trowbridge  a  committee  to  procure  a  donation  from  Trinity 
Church  in  the  city  of  New  York.  All  efforts  were  unavailing  to  get 
any  pecuniary  assistance  from  Trinity  Church,  but  subsequently,  when 
St.  Paul's  Chapel  in  New  York  was  fitted  up,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Searle  ob- 


See  Note  in  Appendix. 


28  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

tained  from  Trinity  Church  the  beautiful  glass  chandelier  which  orna- 
mented for  so  many  years  the  frame  edifice  of  St.  Paul's,  Buffalo, 
until  its  removal  in  1850. 

March  13,  1826,  when  the  Rev.  Mr.  Searle  took  charge  of  St. 
Paul's,  the  edifice  was  poorly  fitted  up,  and  he  procured  requisite 
furniture  for  it  which,  with  other  outlays,  caused  a  debt  of  $800  ;  this 
debt  the  vestry  proposed  to  discharge  by  deeding  unsalable  pews  free 
of  taxation  for  the  support  of  the  parish. 

March  27,  1826,  at  the  annual  election  of  wardens  and  vestrymen, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Searle  presiding,  Henry  M.  Campbell  and  George  B. 
Webster  were  elected  wardens,  and  Jacob  A.  Barker,  William  Williams, 
Russell  H.  Heywood,  J.  J.  Ulman,  Benjamin  Rathbun,  Henry  Hamil- 
ton, Anthony  Beers  and  Sylvester  Matthews,  vestrymen,  but  on  June 
13,  1826,  Henry  M.  Campbell  having  removed  to  Detroit,  Dr.  Josiah 
Trowbridge  was  elected  warden  in  his  place. 

The  "Buffalo  Emporium"  of  July  29,  1826,  announced  that  the 
deaths  of  John  Adams  and  Thomas  Jefferson,  which  took  place  on  the 
Fourth  of  July  in  that  year,  were  commemorated  in  Buffalo  by  a  pro- 
cession through  Pearl  Street  and  the  Terrace,  and  along  Main  Street 
to  St.  Paul's  Church.  During  the  procession,  and  before  and  after  the 
services,  the  church  bell  tolled,  and  at  the  church,  which  was  filled  to 
overflowing,  the  ceremonies  were  interesting  and  solemn.  The  Rev. 
Mr.  Searle  read  the  church  services  and  made  an  impressive  prayer, 
and  Sheldon  Smith  pronounced  an  eulogy  on  the  deceased  statesmen. 

At  the  convention  in  1826,  St.  Paul's  Church  was  represented  by 
the  Rev.  Addison  Searle,  and  by  Guy  H.  Goodrich  as  a  lay  delegate. 
Bishop  Hobart  reported  that  he  had  confirmed  twenty-six  persons  in 
September,  1826,  in  Buffalo.  The  number  of  communicants  reported 
was  thirty-five  in  Buffalo  and  ten  at  Black  Rock.  The  bishop  also 
reported  that  he  had  visited  Chautauqua  County,  and  that  the  congre- 
gation of  St.  Paul's  Church.  Mayville,  N.  Y.,  was  erecting  a  church 
edifice.  The  bishop  again  visited  Mayville,  September  3,  1828,  and 
consecrated  St.  Paul's  Church  in  that  village. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  29 

The  committee,  consisting  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Searle  and  Jacob  A. 
Barker,  appointed  in  January,  1826,  to  procure  from  the  Holland  Land 
Company  a  deed  of  one  hundred  acres  of  land,  called  by  the  company 
the  "Gospel  lot,"  concluded  to  visit  Jacob  S.  Otto,  the  agent  of  the 
company  in  Batavia,  and  to  make  a  personal  appeal  to  him  for  the 
donation.  Mr.  Otto  had  previously  refused  to  make  such  a  donation. 
A  ride  from  Buffalo  to  Batavia  over  the  indifferent  roads  of  1826 
was  a  day's  journey,  but  the  committee  finally  made  the  visit,  and  such 
was  the  persuasive  ability  of  Mr.  Searle,  that  Mr.  Otto  finally  consented 
to  deed  to  the  rector,  wardens  and  vestrymen  one  hundred  acres, 
about  five  miles  from  Buffalo,  on  the  Military  Road,  which  road  had 
been  laid  out  between  Buffalo  and  Lewiston,  N.  Y.,  by  the  United 
States  Government  during  the  war  of  1812.  He  accordingly  deeded 
to  them  part  of  lot  No.  43  in  township  12,  and  range  8,  of  the 
Holland  Land  Company  lands,  fronting  13  chains  and  54  links  on 
the  Military  Road,  and  running  back  about  75  chains  to  the  New 
York  Reservation  line,  which  is  one  mile  easterly  of  the  Niagara 
River.  The  conditions  of  the  deed  being  that  it  should  be  held  in 
trust  for  the  support  of  the  parish,  or  the  ministers  thereof  only,  to  be 
leased  in  terms  of  twenty-one  years  each,  and  if  used  otherwise,  the 
land  should  revert  to  the  company.  The  deed  is  signed  by  Wilhem 
Willink,  Wilhem  Willink  the  younger,  Jan  Willink  the  younger  son  of 
Jan,  and  Cornelis  Vollenhoven,  all  of  the  City  of  Amsterdam,  in  the 
Kingdom  of  the  United  Netherlands,  by  Jacob  S.  Otto,  their  attorney  ; 
it  is  dated  January  23,  1827,  and  is  recorded  in  Erie  County  Clerk's 
office  in  Liber  10  of  Deeds  at  page  47.  Mr.  Otto  died  May  2, 
1827,  and  was  succeeded  in  the  agency  of  the  company  by  David 
E.  Evans  of  Batavia,  N.  Y.  On  September  4,  1830,  Mr.  Evans,  as 
such  agent,  executed  a  quit  claim  deed  of  the  said  one  hundred 
acres  to  the  rector,  wardens  and  vestrymen,  so  that  they  could  have 
full  control  thereof  and  hold  it  in  fee  simple.  This  quit  claim  deed 
is  recorded  in  Erie  County  Clerk's  office  in  Liber  14  of  Deeds, 
page  460. 


30  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 


1827. 

The  First  Presbyterian  Church,  on  Main  Street,  was  dedicated 
March  28,  1827. 

April  12,  1827,  the  pew  owners  in  St.  Paul's  Church  were  as  follows, 
namely  :  Pew  No.  1,  Henry  Kip  ;  No.  2,  G.  and  T.  Weed  ;  No.  3, 
Elias  Ransom  ;  No.  4,  Benjamin  Rathbun  ;  No.  5,  John  G.  Camp  ;  No. 
6,  Dr.  Cyrenius  Chapin  ;  No.  7,  Guy  H.  Goodrich  ;  No.  8,  Matthews 
and  Hoyt ;  No.  9,  E.  Walden  and  William  Williams  ;  No.  10,  Jacob  A. 
Barker;  No.  11,  G.  and  T.  Weed;  No.  12,  John  Lay,  Jr.;  No.  13, 
Henry  M.  Campbell;  No.  14,  George  B.  Webster;  No.  15,  R.  H. 
Heywood  ;  No.  16,  Camp,  Goodrich  and  Webster  ;  No.  17,  R.  H.  Hey- 
wood  ;  No.  18,  F.  B.  Merrill  and  John  Root ;  No.  19,  Josiah  Trow- 
bridge ;  No.  20,  Mrs.  St.  John;  No.  21,  Roswell  Chapin;  No.  22, 
Albert  H.  Tracy  ;  No.  23,  Lucius  Gould  ;  No.  24,  Manly  Colton  ;  No. 
25,  Mrs.  Granger  ;  No.  26,  George  B.  Webster  ;  No.  27,  G.  H.  Good- 
rich ;  No.  28,  Mr.  Peck  ;  No.  29,  Josiah  Trowbridge  ;  No.  30,  Henry 
M.  Campbell;  No.  31,  Cyrus  Athearn  ;  No.  32,  George  B.  Webster; 
No.  33,  Erastus  Gilbert ;  No.  34,  Rev.  Addison  Searle  ;  No.  35,  Jacob 
A.  Barker  ;  No.  36,  Zenas  W.  Barker  ;  No.  37,  Josiah  Trowbridge  ; 
No.  38,  Jacob  A.  Barker  ;  No.  39,  Gilbert  and  Sweeney  ;  No.  40, 
Josiah  Trowbridge. 

April  16,  1827,  at  the  annual  election  of  wardens  and  vestrymen, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Searle  presiding,  George  B.  Webster  and  Dr.  Josiah  Trow- 
bridge were  elected  wardens,  and  Henry  R.  Stagg,  John  G.  Camp, 
Jacob  A.  Barker,  William  Williams,  Russell  H.  Heywood,  Benjamin 
Rathbun,  Anthony  Beers,  and  Sylvester  Matthews  vestrymen,  and  on 
May  10,  Dyre  Tillinghast  was  appointed  clerk  of  the  vestry. 

May  10,  1827,  Jacob  A.  Barker  was  appointed  a  committee  to  pre- 
vent all  trespasses  on  the  "Glebe  lot,"  and  to  prosecute  all  offenders. 
It  was  very  common  in  those  days  for  persons  to  cut  off  valuable  tim- 
ber from  unoccupied  lands. 


In.  1818,  tnt  w-Mt  end  oftkc  Cku.rcH  wn 
e»tenAei.  |8(«««    to    Tfeirl   street 


GES31 

J  LJ-l  I  JJ,JT  Vestibule.  jT 

jfflgf  | fr"it>H 

'V  Hentoance   H 

r 


EAST. 


PLAN     OF    ORIGINAL     FRAME    CHURCH     OF    ST.    PAUL'S, 
As  built  in  1819,  with  names  of  pew  holders  in  1827. 

Compiled  by  G.  H.  B.  from  old  drawings, 
records,  and  descriptions. 

The  names  of  purchasers  of  pews  at 
first  sale  in  1820  will  be  found  on  page  17. 
(See  pages  17-30.) 


r 

h 

a 
0 

z 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  31 

In  1827,  the  report  to  the  convention  was  50  communicants  and 
60  Sunday  School  children,  in  St.  Paul's. 

November  28,  1827,  a  liberal  subscription  was  made  for  church 
music.     Christmas,  1827,  the  church  was  dressed  with  evergreens. 


1828. 

April  7,  1828,  at  the  annual  election  of  wardens  and  vestrymen, 
George  B.  Webster  and  Dr.  Josiah  Trowbridge  were  elected  wardens, 
and  Jacob  A.  Barker,  Russell  H.  Heywood,  Guy  H.  Goodrich,  John  W. 
Beals,  John  Lay,  Jr.,  Cyrus  Athearn,  John  G.  Camp,  and  William  Wil- 
liams vestrymen,  and  Dyre  Tillinghast  was  appointed  the  clerk  ;  and 
on  the  15th  of  April  the  vestry  appointed  Guy  H.  Goodrich,  Dr.  Josiah 
Trowbridge  and  John  W.  Beals  a  committee  to  enquire  into  the  pro- 
priety of  enlarging  the  church  edifice  ;  on  the  18th  of  April  the  commit- 
tee reported  in  favor  of  the  same,  and  Messrs.  Williams,  Webster  and 
Goodrich  were  appointed  a  committee  to  ascertain  to  what  extent  new 
pews  could  be  sold. 

April  3,  1828,  Loring  Pierce,  the  sexton,  reported  that  he  had  con- 
structed a  gravel  walk  in  front  of  the  church  at  an  expense  of  $5.50, 
and  it  had  been  paid  for  by  subscription.  At  this  time  sidewalks  in  the 
village  of  Buffalo  were  mostly  of  gravel. 

May  1,  1828,  a  committee  was  appointed,  called  the  Building 
Committee,  to  cause  the  following  additions,  alterations  and  improve- 
ments to  be  made  ;  namely,  to  extend  the  westerly  end  of  the  church 
to  Pearl  Street,  to  correspond  in  style  with  the  then  edifice,  and  to 
remove  the  chancel,  reading-desk  and  pulpit  into  the  said  extension  ;  also 
to  construct  twelve  single  and  six  double  pews  in  addition  to  the  then 
number  and  to  finish  rooms  in  the  basement  for  the  Sunday  School ;  also 
to  raise  the  tower  to  a  height  to  correspond  with  the  increased  length, 
with  balustrade  around  the  whole  roof,  and  with  such  other  alterations, 
repairs  and  fixtures  as  to  make  the  whole  building  correspond  with  the 


32  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

addition,  the  whole  to  have  three  good  coats  of  paint.  The  whole  to 
be  done  without  incurring  any  debt  on  the  parish,  and  payment  to  be 
made  by  the  vestry  deeding  the  additional  pews  to  Dr.  Trowbridge  or 
to  such  person  as  he  directed.     These  improvements  cost  $2,500. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Searle  reported  to  the  convention  in  October,  1828, 
that  St.  Paul's  Church  had  been  gradually  and  constantly  increasing  in 
temporal  and  spiritual  things,  and  that  the  enlargement  and  thorough 
repair  of  the  edifice  had  made  it  one  of  the  handsomest  churches,  out- 
side of  the  cities,  in  the  State.* 

James  D.  Sheppard  was  the  church  organist  in  1826,  and  for  twenty 
years  thereafter. 


*  The  following  interesting  description  of  the  old  church  is  taken  from  "  Recol- 
lections of  Buffalo,  or  Fifty  Years  Since,"  by  Mr.  Samuel  M.  Welch,  published  by 
him  in  1891  : — "  The  original  St.  Paul's  Church  building  which  stood  on  the  site  of 
the  present  structure,  was  a  frame  building  of  '  Gothic  mould,'  as  nearly  as  anything 
without  special  architectural  supervision.  The  steeple,  or  tower,  did  not  'pierce  the 
skies,'  was  of  modest  proportions,  with  four  spikes,  one  at  each  corner  of  the  top. 
Seemingly  copied  from  the  picture  of  some  Norman  building.  The  whole  painted  in 
shades  of  sky  blue.  It  was  not  very  grand,  but  pleasant  to  look  upon  ;  interesting  to 
the  rural  amateur  antiquarian,  as  well  as  the  lover  of  simplicity.  Finished  like  the  rural 
parish  churches  of  England  imitating  the  grander  cathedrals,  with  high  pulpit  and 
rector's  desk,  its  background  and  seats  cushioned  and  curtained  in  bright  red  as  high 
as  its  chancel  window  might  have  been,  had  there  been  one  ;  beneath  the  pulpit  in  its 
foreground,  was  the  curate's  or  'dark's'  reading  box.  With  high  back  pews  and 
family  square  seats  along  either  window  or  wall  side,  each  with  its  table  to  rest  their 
books  of  '  common  prayer,'  (a  misnomer  to  me,  I  think  they  are  uncommon  prayers), 
and  their  Bibles  and  hymnals  during  service.  It  had  a  full  gallery  all  around  the  three 
sides,  an  organ,  and  the  bell,  whose  old  familiar  ring  I  hear  occasionally  coming  from 
the  low  belfry  of  the  modern  church,  like  sounds  from  home,  while  the  more  exalted 
place  in  the  later  steeple  is  given  to  the  chimes.  The  old  church  resembled  in  its 
make  up  the  almost  ancient  one  of  Bishop  Berkeley,  built  in  the  last  century  in  New- 
port, R.  I.,  which  is  one  of  the  objects  of  interest  in  that  delightful  summer  resort  and 
naval  station.  How  we  boys  and  girls  loved  that  little  old  unpretentious  church  !  And 
when  it  was  moved  away  off,  down  Genesee  Street,  to  make  way  for  a  more  solid  and 
grander  building,  we  realized  with  a  sorrowful  sigh,  that  our  boyhood  days  were 
indeed  over." 


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History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  33 

Mr.  Searle  was  the  rector  from  March,  1824,  to  December  31,  1828. 
He  was  a  chaplain  in  the  United  States  Navy,  and  had  leave  of 
absence  during  his  residence  in  Buffalo.  He  was  much  more  methodical 
in  the  records  of  his  office  than  any  of  his  predecessors,  and  in  record- 
ing the  baptisms  would  give  the  exact  name  and  the  day  of  birth,  and 
in  giving  the  date  of  the  baptism,  would  also  give  the  day  according  to 
the  church  calendar,  as  St.  Peter's  Day,  Trinity  Sunday,  St.  Mark's  Day, 
Ascension  Day,  or  such  other  day  as  it  was.  His  records  in  these  re- 
spects are  models  and  useful  precedents.  Soon  after  coming  to  Buffalo 
Mr.  Searle  boarded  with  George  B.  Webster,  and  afterwards  resided 
in  a  house  on  the  corner  of  Franklin  and  Mohawk  streets.  During 
his  residence  in  this  house  he  was  visited  by  his  friend  Rev.  William 
Shelton,  then  on  his  first  visit  to  Niagara  Falls.  In  the  summer  of  1827 
Mr.  Searle  invited  him  to  preach  in  St.  Paul's,  and  he  thus  preached  his 
first  sermon  in  the  church  of  which  he  afterwards  became  the  rector. 

Mr.  Searle's  salary  from  the  Missionary  fund,  as  chaplain  in  the 
navy,  and  as  rector  of  St.  Paul's,  enabled  him  not  only  to  live  comfort- 
ably but  to  contribute  something  to  the  needs  of  the  parish.  He  was 
in  Buffalo  during  the  anti-masonic  excitement  in  1S26  and  1827,  con- 
sequent on  the  abduction  of  William  Morgan,  and,  although  he  was  a 
decided  mason,  conducted  himself  with  such  propriety,  as  to  give  no 
offense  to  the  strong  anti-masonic  element  in  the  community.  Mr. 
Searle  had  good  executive  ability,  was  a  good  churchman,  and  was 
much  appreciated  by  his  congregation.  He  was  unmarried,  and  his 
sister,  Miss  Searle,  kept  house  for  him. 

September  25,  1828,  the  Rev.  Addison  Searle  resigned  the  rectorship 
of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry  of  St.  Paul's  Church  on  September  26, 
1828,  Mr.  Tillinghast,  as  the  clerk,  was  directed  to  inform  Bishop 
Hobart  of  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Searle,  and  to  ask  his  advice  as  to 
who  should  be  called  to  succeed  him,  and  to  say  that  the  vestry  were 
favorably  inclined  to  extend  an  invitation  to  the  Rev.  William  Shelton 
of  Fairfield,  Connecticut. 


34  History  of  St.  Pau/'s  Church. 

The  bishop  replied  under  date  of  October  6,  1828,  that  he  deeply 
regretted  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Searle  ;  that  he  had  full  confidence  in 
the  correct  principles  and  views  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Shelton,  and  that  his 
talents,  fidelity,  zeal  and  excellent  temper  and  habits  would  secure 
him  the  increasing  confidence  of  the  congregation  and  enable  him  to  be 
useful  to  them,  and  that  it  would  afford  him  great  pleasure  to  see  him 
settled  in  Buffalo.  The  bishop  assured  the  vestry  that  he  was  much 
gratified  with  the  evidence  they  afforded  him  of  the  friendly  disposi- 
tion to  him  officially  and  personally. 

The  vestry  met  October  10th,  and  resolved  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Shelton 
be  invited  to  take  the  pastoral  charge  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  and  that  the 
salary  of  $500  per  annum  be  guaranteed  to  him  by  the  parishioners, 
and  as  much  beyond  that  sum  as  could  be  procured  from  the  congre- 
gation by  voluntary  subscription,  and  also  whatever  sum  should  be 
received  from  the  Missionary  fund  of  the  Diocese. 

Mr.  Tillinghast,  as  clerk  of  the  vestry,  addressed  a  letter  to  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Shelton  under  date  of  October  n,  1828,  extending  to  him  the 
rectorship,  and  said  that  the  highly  satisfactory  performance  of  divine 
service  in  the  summer  of  1827,  the  very  flattering  manner  in  which  he 
had  been  spoken  of  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Searle,  the  estimation  in  which  he 
was  held  by  the  friends  of  the  church,  and  the  exalted  opinion  entertained 
of  him  by  Bishop  Hobart,  had  induced  the  vestry  to  hope  that  the  invi- 
tation would  be  accepted.  Mr.  Tillinghast  also  stated  that  it  was  not 
any  dissatisfaction  that  caused  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Searle,  but  the 
conviction  on  his  part  that  his  constitution  could  not  endure  the 
climate.  Mr.  Tillinghast  stated  the  terms  that  the  vestry  had  author- 
ized, and  also  stated  that  during  Mr.  Searle's  rectorship  the  subscrip- 
tions for  his  salary  had  gradually  increased  from  $500  to  $700  per 
annum  and  that  the  missionary  stipend  was  $125  per  annum.  He 
also  stated  that  the  parishioners  had  been  perfectly  united  during  Mr. 
Searle's  incumbency.  Mr.  Tillinghast  also  stated  that  since  Mr. 
Shelton  was  in  Buffalo  in  1827,  the  church  edifice  had  undergone  a 
thorough  repair  and   had  received  an    addition    of    eighteen  feet   in 


THE     ORIGINAL    ALTAR.     CHANCEL-RAIL,     READING-DESK,     AND     PULPIT     IN 

ST.     PAUL'S     FRAME    CHURCH. 

Retained  when  the  church  was  enlarged  in  1828.     (See  pages  31,  32,  384.) 

The  Marble  Font  was  afterwards  used  in  the  stone  church  until  the  fire  of  1888.     (See  pages  59,  70.  275.) 


,ZU<t. 


4*. 


J 


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<  c/ohfTt  &  VVJhry     J 


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PLAN  OF  CHANCEL  IN  FRAME  CHURCH. 


From    drawings    made  for    Charles    W. 
Evans,  by  John  Hefford,  in  1849. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  35 

length,  would  be  completed  in  about  one  month,  and  would  then  be  a 
very  elegant  church. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Shelton  replied  to  the  invitation  on  November  11, 
1828,  declining  the  rectorship,  and  said  in  his  letter  that  the  call  had 
given  him  the  privilege  of  becoming  the  clergyman  of  one  of  the  most 
promising  congregations  perhaps  in  the  whole  country,  and  that  it 
offered  him  the  companionship  and  friendship  of  an  interesting  people, 
and  put  it  in  his  power  to  become  eminently  useful  in  the  church  of 
Christ,  and  offered  him  a  compensation  ample  for  all  his  wants.  He 
expressed  to  the  vestry  the  sense  of  the  obligation  he  was  under  for  their 
flattering  predilections,  and  that  nothing  but  a  firm  conviction  on  his 
mind  of  duty  would  have  prevailed  on  him  to  answer  as  he  had.  In 
his  letter  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Searle,  with  whom  he  was  on  terms  of  inti- 
mate friendship,  written  a  short  time  before  the  one  declining  the 
invitation,  he  said  that  to  accept  would  be  taking  him  from  his  home, 
his  good  and  aged  mother,  his  family,  his  hereditary  friends,  his  parish- 
ioners to  whom  he  was  bound  by  strong  feelings  of  attachment,  not  a 
member  of  whom  had  ever  had  any  other  clergyman  or  spiritual  coun- 
selor, except  his  father  whose  name  they  venerated,  and  himself  whom 
they  regarded  with  sensations  very  different  from  any  other. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Searle  remained  in  the  parish  until  the  close  of  the 
year  1828,  and  continued  his  efforts  to  procure  a  rector.  On  Decem- 
ber 1 1,  1828,  Bishop  Hobart  wrote  to  him  that  he  had  been  perplexed  to 
know  what  to  do  about  Buffalo,  but  he  had  at  length  induced  the  Rev. 
Reverard  Kearney  to  visit  there.  That  he  was  a  clergyman  of  respect- 
able talents  and  attainments,  gentlemanly  in  his  manner,  and  he 
thought  would  faithfully  devote  himself  to  the  duties  of  his  office. 

On  December  17,  1828,  the  vestry  appointed  a  committee  to  collect 
the  balance  of  salary  due  Mr.  Searle.  They  had  previously  resolved 
to  repay  Mr.  Searle  for  the  carpeting  he  had  furnished  for  the  aisles  of 
the  church,  out  of  the  communion  offerings,  and  out  of  the  funds  col- 
lected by  the  ladies  for  said  carpeting.  At  the  same  meeting  they 
appointed    Cyrus   Athearn,  Jacob    A.    Barker   and    John    Lay,  Jr.,  a 


36  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

committee  to  dress  the  church  with  evergreens  for  Christmas,  and  to 
superintend  the  expenditure  thereof.  This  very  proper  custom  was 
continued  in  after  years. 

The  services  on  Christmas  day,  1828,  and  the  sermon  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Searle  were  mentioned  with  much  approbation  by  a  correspondent 
in  the  village  newspaper,  and  the  enlarged  church  edifice  was  referred 
to  as  being  very  elegant  and  convenient  for  public  worship,  and  not 
excelled  by  any  other  country  edifice  in  the  State.  The  editor  in  the 
same  paper  remarked  that  the  nourishing  state  of  the  parish  was 
attributable  to  the  talents  and  industry  of  Mr.  Searle,  and  referred  to 
the  state  of  his  health  as  requiring  him  to  leave  Buffalo,  and  that  he 
would  have  the  good  wishes,  esteem  and  affection  of  those  connected 
with  him  in  the  church. 

1829. 

Mr.  Searle  communicated  to  the  vestry  that  Bishop  Hobart  had 
selected  the  Rev.  Reverard  Kearney  to  supply  the  church  services, 
and  it  was  resolved  that  the  vestry  would  receive  him,  and  on  January 
17,  1S29,  it  was  further  resolved  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Kearney  be  invited 
to  accept  the  rectorship  at  $550  per  annum  exclusive  of  the  missionary 
stipend,  to  commence  January,  1829.  At  the  same  meeting  it  was 
resolved  to  pay  James  D.  Sheppard  $150  per  annum  for  his  services  as 
organist. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Searle  re-entered  on  his  duties  as  Chaplain  in  the 
Navy  Yard  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  in  1829.  He  continued  for  some  years 
in  the  navy,  visiting  different  countries  in  the  Government  war  ves- 
sels, sometimes  writing  from  different  South  American  ports  to  his 
friend  the  Rev.  William  Shelton  in  Buffalo.  He  died  in  the  year  1850 
on  board  the  United  States  frigate  Cumberland  on  its  voyage  to 
Alexandria  in  Egypt. 

April  20,  1S29,  at  the  annual  election  of  wardens  and  vestrymen, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Kearney  presiding,  George  B.  Webster  and   Dr.  Josiah 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  37 

Trowbridge  were  elected  wardens,  and  Russell  H.  Heywood,  William 
Williams,  John  W.  Beals,  Jerry  Ratcliff,  Manly  Colton,  Henry  Hamil- 
ton, Augustine  Eaton  and  Jacob  A.  Barker,  vestrymen.  Dyre  Tilling- 
hast  was  appointed  clerk  of  the  vestry. 

The  parish  is  very  much  indebted  to  Mr.  Tillinghast  for  the  very 
proper  and  methodical  manner  in  which  he  kept  the  records  and  papers 
of  the  vestry.  Without  his  care  and  attention  they  would  have 
eventually  been  lost.  From  1817  to  1S27  the  minutes  of  the  vestry 
had  been  kept  on  loose  pieces  of  paper,  and  were  so  kept  until  Mr. 
Tillinghast  procured  a  suitable  church  book  and  copied  these  loose 
records  in  it.  All  succeeding  clerks  of  the  vestry  have  followed  his 
good  example. 

April  28,  1829,  at  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  a  communication  was 
received  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Kearney,  wishing  to  know  if  his  services 
were  acceptable  to  the  parish,  and  the  vestry  answered  that  they  were. 
On  the  1 2th  of  May  he  was  paid  $244  in  full  of  his  salary,  and  soon  after 
left  the  parish,  and  eventually  went  to  New  York.  His  letters  to  the 
vestry  after  his  departure  showed  dissatisfaction  on  his  part.  It  was 
evident  that  he  was  not  in  sympathy  with  most  of  the  congregation. 
The  letters  evinced  a  determination  on  his  part  not  to  "  depart  one 
hair's  breadth  "  from  the  course  he  had  "  marked  out  "  for  himself,  and 
if  not  acceptable,  they  could  consider  his  resignation  as  offered. 

On  the  19th  of  June,  1829,  Mr.  Kearney,  in  a  letter  from  New 
York,  resigned  the  rectorship,  but  before  receiving  it  the  vestry,  on 
the  20th  of  June,  declared  the  rectorship  vacant,  and  so  addressed 
Mr.  Kearney  in  New  York,  and  passed  a  resolution  inviting  the  Rev. 
William  Shelton  to  take  the  parochial  charge  of  the  parish,  at  the 
salary  of  $600  per  annum,  exclusive  of  the  missionary  stipend,  and 
appointed  George  B.  Webster,  R.  H.  Heywood  and  William  Williams 
to  communicate  the  resolution  to  him.  They  also  appointed  Dr. 
Trowbridge  a  committee  to  sell  the  organ  and  purchase  a  new  one. 
The  subscription  for  the  new  organ  was  commenced  September  22, 
1829,  and  amounted  to  $950. 


38  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

June  22,  1829,  the  committee  addressed  their  communication  to  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Shelton  at  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  offering  him  the  rectorship  at 
$600  per  annum.  He  replied  by  letter  dated  July  21,  1829,  stating 
that  he  had  taken  into  consideration  all  things  connected  with  the 
question,  that  he  had  weighed  all  the  arguments  on  either  side,  with  that 
attentive  deliberation  which  they  so  eminently  required  of  him,  and  the 
result  was  that  he  had  resolved  to  commit  himself,  under  God,  to  the 
honor  and  principle  of  the  good  people  of  St.  Paul's  parish,  trusting 
that  he  might  be  useful,  and  believing  that  he  might  be  rendered 
happy  under  the  circumstances  in  which  Divine  Providence  had  placed 
him.  He  assured  them  that  he  would  use  his  utmost  endeavors  to  be 
with  them  as  early  as  possible,  but  thought  it  would  not  be  earlier  than 
the  last  week  in  August,  as  he  had  a  variety  of  interests  to  attend  to, 
and  his  duty  to  his  small  but  much  beloved  parish  in  Fairfield,  Conn. 

Accordingly,  on  the  24th  of  July,  1829,  he  addressed  his  letter  of 
resignation  to  the  wardens  and  vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  Fairfield,  and 
said  it  was  one  of  the  most  painful  efforts  of  his  life  to  bring  his  mind 
to  the  conclusion  to  resign  his  position  as  the  rector. 

He  alluded  to  the  long  service  of  years  that  his  father  and  himself 
had  ministered  to  them  —  his  father  whose  honored  remains  reposed 
under  their  altar.  He  assured  them  that  neither  time  nor  distance 
would  ever  take  from  him  the  interest  he  felt  for  their  welfare,  and  if 
prosperity  continued  with  them,  he  would  rejoice,  or  if  adversity  befell 
them,  he  would  as  strongly  sympathize  with  them. 

When  Mr.  Shelton  declined  the  rectorship  in  1828,  it  was  the  wish 
of  his  excellent  mother  that  he  should  do  so.  She  naturally  thought 
that  he  was  fulfilling  his  duty  in  his  then  parish,  and  it  was  proper  for 
him  to  remain  where  she  was,  but  when  the  invitation  was  repeated  in 
1829,  she  advised  him  to  accept  it,  for  she  then  thought  it  was  the 
direction  of  Providence  for  him  to  obey  the  call,  and  he  accordingly 
obeyed  it. 

July  30th,  George  B.  Webster,  one  of  the  committee,  addressed  a 
letter  to  him  at  Bridgeport,  stating  that  it  had  given  the  whole  parish 


•THE     CHURCHES'-     IN     1838. 

From  Volume  III.  of  Buckingham's  "America,"  published  in  London,  England,  in 

the  early  '40's.     (See  pages  30,  174.) 


(A    *J.i&     0" * 


EASTERLY     END     OF     THE     INTERIOR     OF     ST.    PAULS     FRAME     CHURCH. 
Showing  the  organ.     (1829-1850.)    (See  pages  37,  322,  325.) 

From  a  drawing  made  in  1849  by  John  Hefford. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  39 

sincere  pleasure  for  him  to  accept  the  rectorship,  for  while  they  antici- 
pated his  acceptance  they  feared  otherwise.  He  said  that  the  church 
had  been  closed  since  about  the  middle  of  May,  with  only  occasional 
services,  the  present  was  a  season  of  the  year  when  it  was  important 
that  it  should  be  opened  regularly,  and  that  he  feared  the  congregation 
would  be  a  little  scattered.  They  had  every  reason  to  deplore  the  recent 
change  of  pastors  ;  Mr.  Searle  had  left  the  church  in  a  most  enviable 
state  of  harmony,  and  indeed  there  had  never  been  an  instance  of  want 
of  it  since  the  organization  of  the  parish  ;  the  congregation  was  well 
instructed  in  the  doctrines  of  the  church,  and  in  the  correct  and  regu- 
lar performance  of  the  services,  at  least  correct  according  to  their 
understanding  and,  as  they  believed,  in  conformity  with  the  practice  of 
Bishop  Hobart.  Mr.  Searle's  successor,  Mr.  Kearney,  without  any 
reference  to  established  use  or  to  the  feelings  of  the  congregation, 
introduced  novelties  into  it,  and  marked  out  a  course  of  conduct  and 
policy,  which,  while  it  seemed  to  make  him  popular  with  a  part  of  the 
people  who  made  no  pretensions  to  being  churchmen,  lost  him  the 
confidence  of  those  upon  whom  the  church  always  had  depended, 
and  notwithstanding  when  he  left  there  was  some  small  degree 
of  feeling  manifested,  yet  soon  there  was  only  one  sentiment  on  the 
subject.  Mr.  Webster  said  further  that  at  the  time  of  his  writing  he 
believed  there  existed  no  hindrance  to  an  entire  harmony  and  concord 
in  the  parish  and  that  he  had  no  doubt  that  a  straightforward,  unde- 
viating  and  churchman-iike  course  would  speedily  restore  whatever  the 
parish  might  have  suffered  by  a  change  of  pastor. 

Mr.  Webster  also  stated  in  his  letter  that  a  pastor,  who  should 
possess  the  confidence  and  affection  of  the  people,  might  look  for 
much  happiness  in  Buffalo,  that  frequent  changes  in  the  rectorship  of 
a  parish  were  always  to  be  deplored,  and  that  there  was  nothing  which 
a  people  more  earnestly  desired  than  a  faithful  pastor  who  would  be 
content  to  remain  permanently  and  grow  up  with  the  parish  as  their 
spiritual  head  and  counselor.  Mr.  Webster  further  said  that  the 
immediate  maintenance  which  the  parish  could  furnish  was  less  than 


40  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

a  man  qualified  to  fill  the  station  had  a  right  to  demand,  but  it  was  to  be 
expected  that  it  would  annually  increase  until  it  became  a  competence. 

It  is  very  remarkable  that  Mr.  Webster,  in  stating  the  proper  qualifica- 
tions of  a  rector,  as  one  who  should  be  "  straightforward,  undeviating  and 
churchman-like,  who  should  possess  the  confidence  and  affection  of  the 
people,  and  remain  permanently  with  them,  growing  up  with  the  parish  as 
their  spiritual  head  and  counselor,"  should  not  only  have  described  Mr. 
Shelton  the  then  rector,  as  he  was  at  the  time,  but,  without  being  aware 
of  it,  should  also  have  marked  out  the  course  of  his  rectorship  for  more 
than  fifty  succeeding  years.  Mr.  Webster's  expectation  that  there  would 
be  an  annual  increase  of  the  salary  until  it  became  a  competence,  was 
not  fulfilled  to  the  extent  it  should  have  been. 

The  new  rector  was  born  in  Fairfield,  Connecticut,  September  it, 
1798,  and  was  the  seventh  of  the  nine  sons  and  daughters  of  Philo  and 
Lucy  Nichols  Shelton.  The  Rev.  Philo  Shelton  was  born  in  Huntington, 
Conn.,  in  1755,  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1775,  was  ordained  deacon* 
and  then  priest  by  Bishop  Seabury  in  1 785,  and  was  forty  years  rector  of 
St.  John's  Church,  Bridgeport,  and  Trinity  Church,  Fairfield.  He  died 
February  27,  1825,  aged  seventy.  His  wife  was  born  in  1761,  and  died 
in  1838,  aged  seventy-seven.  Philo  Shelton  no  doubt  impressed  his  own 
character  on  his  son  William.  In  a  letter  written  in  1857  to  the  Rev.  Dr. 
William  B.  Sprague,  the  author  of  the  "Annals  of  the  American  Episcopal 
Pulpit,"  the  son  said  of  the  father,  that  "  he  was  distinguished  for  simplic- 
ity, integrity  and  an  honest  and  earnest  devotion  to  the  interests  of  pure 
and  undefiled  religion,  and  was  both  by  education  and  conviction  a 
thorough  Episcopalian,  and  his  theology  was  strictly  in  accordance  with 

*  It  is  said  that  Philo  Shelton  was  the  first  deacon  ordained  in  the  United  States. 
Bishop  Seabury  was  consecrated  the  first  Bishop  of  the  American  Church,  in  Aber- 
deen, Scotland,  November  14,  1784,  immediately  after  which  he  returned  to  America, 
arriving  in  June,  1785.  He  held  his  first  ordination  —  the  first  Episcopal  ordination 
in  America  —  in  Christ  Church,  Middletown,  Conn.,  on  August  3,  1785  ;  four  candi- 
dates were  ordained  to  the  diaconate,  one  of  whom  was  Philo  Shelton.  (See  Sprague's 
"  Annals  of  the  American  Episcopal  Pulpit,"  Vol.  5,  pages  151  and  350  ;  also  Bishop 
Perry's  "History  of  the  American  Episcopal  Church,"  Vol.  2,  page  450.) 


THE     REVEREND     WILLIAM     SHELTON. 
At  about  the  age  of  thirty-five. 


From  the  painting  formerly  owned 
by  him,  ascribed  to  Walker,  and  now 
in  the  Parish  House. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  41 

the  Book  of  Common  Prayer.  He  believed  in  the  divinely  constituted 
church,  and  believed  the  Church  in  America  to  be  a  daughter  of  the 
Church  in  England,  and  believed  in  the  unshaken  succession  of  that 
Church  through  her  bishops  from  the  Apostles'  days,  believed  in  the 
spiritual  efficacy  of  the  sacraments,  and  in  the  divinity  of  Christ,  by  whose 
sacrifice  the  sins  of  men  were  atoned  for.  These  and  other  kindred  doc- 
trines he  taught  as  essential  to  the  well-being  of  the  Christian  religion." 
Those  were  essentially  the  doctrines  of  the  new  rector  of  St.  Paul's, 
believed  in  and  practiced  by  him  during  all  the  period  of  his  rectorship. 

In  his  younger  days  the  son,  William,  was  liberally  educated  with 
special  reference  to  the  ministry,  and  in  1823,  graduated  at  the  General 
Theological  Seminary,  and  in  the  same  year  was  ordained  deacon  by 
Bishop  Brownell  of  Connecticut,  and  priest  by  the  same,  in  1825,  in 
Fairfield,  in  that  State. 

Soon  after  his  ordination,  in  1823,  he  took  charge  of  the  missionary 
station  at  Plattsburg,  on  Lake  Champlain,  N.  Y.,  and  subsequently,  in 
1824,  was  the  minister  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Fairfield,  Conn.,  and  con- 
tinued there  until  his  removal  to  Buffalo  in  1829. 

He  entered  on  his  duties,  and  preached  his  first  sermon  as  rector 
of  St.  Paul's  Church  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  on  Sunday,  September  13,  1S29. 
He  was  then  thirty-one  years  of  age.* 

*  The  following  description  of  the  old  frame  church  was  given  by  Dr.  Shelton  in 
an  address  made  to  the  parishioners,  at  the  rectory  on  Pearl  Street,  on  the  occasion  of 
his  birthday  and  the  forty-eighth  anniversary  of  his  rectorship  of  St.  Paul's,  September 
11,  1S77.  Speaking  of  his  coming  to  Buffalo,  he  said  :  ....  "  The  church  had 
been  organized  a  number  of  years,  and  the  church  building  had  been  occupied  perhaps 
ten  years.  It  stood  on  the  site  where  now  St.  Paul's  stands.  That  building  was  a 
neat  and  plain,  but  very  respectable  one,  and  we  all  had  an  honest  pride  in  it,  and 
were  generally  satisfied  with  it.  It  stood  facing  Main  Street.  The  chancel  was  in 
the  west  end.  The  pews  on  the  sides  of  the  church  were  square  and  there  was  no 
gallery.  In  time  the  square  pews  were  changed  into  slips,  and  then  as  the  congrega- 
tion enlarged,  as  it  did  rapidly,  there  was  a  demand  for  a  gallery,  which  was  in  due 
time  erected  and  filled.     Then  the  Sunday-school  room  was  enlarged  and  was  soon  full 

of  children  and  their  teachers The  congregation  was  composed  of  persons 

from  various  parts  of  the  nation,  principally  from  New  England."     .... 


42  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

His  salary  as  established  in  1S29  was  from  the  parish,  $600  ;  from 
Grace  Church,  Black  Rock,  $75  ;  missionary  stipend,  $125  ;  in  all,  $800. 

When  the  Rev.  William  Shelton  came  to  Buffalo,  in  1829,  he  was 
not  acquainted  with  anyone  excepting  Carlisle  T.  Allen,  whom  he  had 
known  in  Plattsburg,  N.  Y.  Carlisle  T.  Allen  and  George  W.  Allen 
were  brothers,  and  they,  with  their  respective  families,  were  efficient 
members  of  St.  Paul's.  Carlisle  T.  Allen  is  still  connected  with  the 
parish,  and  is  the  father-in-law  of  Howard  H.  Baker,  one  of  the  vestry 
of  187 1  and  several  subsequent  years.* 

183O. 

At  the  annual  election  of  wardens  and  vestrymen,  April  12,  1830, 
Rev.  William  Shelton  presiding,  George  B.  Webster  and  Russell  H. 
Heywood  were  elected  wardens,  and  Sheldon  Thompson,  Pierre  A. 
Barker,  Henry  Hamilton,  Jerry  Ratcliff,  John  R.  Carpenter,  Cyrus 
Athearn,  Zenas  W.  Barker  and  Dyre  Tillinghast,  vestrymen  ;  and  at  a 
subsequent  meeting  Martin  Chittenden  was  appointed  clerk,  and 
George  B.  Webster  treasurer. 

The  new  vestry  made  a  very  important  agreement  with  the  pew 
owners  —  that  the  fifty-eight  pews  in  the  church  should  be  valued  at  such 
valuation  as  the  location  of  the  pew  should  call  for,  the  aggregate 
valuation  not  to  exceed  $12,000,  and  that  the  vestry  should  assess  such 
an  annual  per  cent,  tax  on  such  valuations  as  would  be  required  to  pay 
the  rector's  salary  and  other  expenses  of  the  parish,  and  that  the  pew 
should  be  liable  for  the  amount  taxed  thereon.  It  was  found  that  the 
subscriptions  of  the  congregation  could  not  be  relied  upon  to  fully 
pay  the  expenses.  The  subscription  plan  had  been  pursued  from  181 7 
to  1830. 

The  following-named  pew  owners  agreed,  by  written  agreement 
dated  August  16,  1S30,  to  the  new  plan  of  taxation  ;  namely,  George  B. 

*  Mr.  Carlisle  Tyler  Allen  died  at  the  house  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Howard  H. 
Baker,  in  Buffalo,  November  r,  1892,  in  the  86th  year  of  his  age. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  43 

Webster,  R.  H.  Heywood,  Dyre  Tillinghast,  Henry  Hamilton,  James 
D.  Sheppard,  John  G.  Camp,  Sylvester  Matthews,  Jacob  A.  Barker, 
Zenas  W.  Barker,  Josiah  Trowbridge,  Benjamin  Rathbun,  Stephen  K. 
Grosvenor,  Sheldon  Thompson,  Horatio  Warren,  Joseph  Shaw,  Manly 
Colton,  John  Root,  Elias  Ransom,  Elias  Green,  William  Williams,  Jesse 
Peck,  Cyrus  Athearn,  G.  H.  Goodrich,  T.  W.  Sherman,  John  Lay,  Jr., 
Noah  P.  Sprague,  R.  Hargrave  Lee,  Jeremiah  Staats,  Harry  Slade,  John 
B.  Stone,  John  W.  Beals,  Elizabeth  Granger,  Lucius  Gould,  Elijah  Ford. 
Bishop  Hobart  died  September  12,  TS30,  in  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  during 
his  annual  visitation.  His  diocese  extended  300  miles  from  east  to 
west,  and  he  traversed  it  every  year,  mostly  in  stages  over  indifferent 
roads,  and  only  in  part  by  the  Erie  Canal.  Rev.  Benjamin  T.  Onder- 
donck,  D.  D.,  was  elected  bishop,  October  8,  1830,  by  the  Diocesan 
convention  of  New  York,  and  was  consecrated  November  26,  1830. 


1831. 

At  the  annual  election  of  wardens  and  vestrymen,  April  4,  1831, 
George  B.  Webster  and  R.  H.  Heywood  were  elected  wardens,  and 
Henry  Hamilton,  Zenas  W.  Barker,  Jerry  Ratcliff,  Pierre  A.  Barker, 
Cyrus  Athearn,  Benjamin  Rathbun,  Jeremiah  Staats  and  Sheldon 
Thompson,  vestrymen. 

The  missionary  stipend  of  $125  having  been  withdrawn  by  the 
diocese  from  the  rector,  it  being  considered  that  the  parish  should  be 
self-supporting,  the  vestry,  on  July  6,  1S31,  resolved  that  the  salary  of 
the  rector  should  be  $800  per  annum,  the  same  that  it  was  when 
he  received  the  said  stipend. 

August  29,  1831,  the  vestry  resolved  to  erect  galleries  on  both  sides 
of  the  church  edifice. 

October  28,  1831,  twenty  pews  having  been  erected  in  the  galleries, 
the  vestry  placed  an  aggregate  valuation  on  them  of  $1,350,  to  be  sold 
at  said  valuation,  subject  to  the  same  tax  as  the  ground  floor. 


44  History  of  St.  Patil's  Church. 


1832. 

Buffalo  was  incorporated  as  a  city  in  1832,  with  a  population  of 
10,000. 

At  the  annual  parish  election,  April  23, 1832,  George  B.  Webster  and 
Dr.  Josiah  Trowbridge  were  elected  wardens,  and  Henry  Hamilton, 
Sheldon  Thompson,  Jacob  A.  Barker,  Guy  H.  Goodrich,  Sylvester 
Matthews,  Benjamin  Rathbun,  Zenas  W.  Barker  and  John  Lay,  Jr., 
vestrymen. 

George  B.  Webster  was  appointed  treasurer,  and  Martin  Chittenden 
clerk  ;  and  on  September  25,  1832,  Henry  Morris  was  appointed  clerk 
in  the  place  of  Martin  Chittenden,  deceased. 

March  13,  1833,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  sell  the  "  Glebe  lot," 
in  order  to  raise  funds  to  liquidate  the  debts  of  the  parish,  but  no  sale 
was  effected. 

I833- 

At  the  annual  election,  April  8,  1833,  George  B.  Webster  and  Dr. 
Josiah  Trowbridge  were  elected  wardens,  and  Sheldon  Thompson,  Guy 
H.  Goodrich,  Pierre  A.  Barker,  Jacob  A.  Barker,  William  B.  Rochester, 
Lester  Brace,  George  E.  Hayes  and  Henry  Hamilton,  vestrymen,  and 
Henry  Morris  was  appointed  clerk.  The  services  of  James  D.  Shep- 
pard,  organist,  having  been  dispensed  with  in  March,  the  new  vestry 
reappointed  him  at  the  salary  of  $125,  to  be  paid  by  subscription, 
but  he  having  declined  to  serve  at  that  sum,  it  was  agreed  that  he 
should  have  what  could  be  collected  for  the  object.  September  3, 
1833,  it  was  resolved  to  circulate  a  subscription  in  addition  to  the  pew 
taxes  to  pay  the  salary  of  the  rector,  and  those  pew  owners  who  had 
not  given  their  written  consent  to  have  their  pews  taxed  to  defray  the 
parish   expenses,   were   requested  to   do  so.     It  was  also  resolved  to 


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PLAN     OF     GALLERIES,    BASEMENT,    AND     ELEVATION     OF    PART     OF     SOUTH     AISLE, 
ST.   PAUL'S    FRAME    CHURCH. 


From  drawings  made  for  Charles  W.  Fvans 
by  John  Hefford,  1849-     (See  pages  43.  45) 


History  of  St.  PattVs  Church.  45 

finish  off  a  room  in  the  basement  of  the  church  for  a  Sunday  School 
room,  provided  the  cost  should  be  paid  by  subscription.  At  this  time 
Stephen  Walker  commenced  acting  as  teacher  in  the  Sunday  School, 
and  also  as  superintendent.  Dr.  Shelton  took  charge  of  the  Sunday 
School  scholars  of  more  advanced  age,  and  faithfully  instructed  them 
in  church  principles  and  Christian  doctrines.  These  scholars  became 
teachers  in  after  years. 

1834- 

At  the  annual  election,  March  31,  1834,  the  same  vestry  were 
reelected,  except  that  Sylvester  Matthews  was  elected  vestryman  in 
place  of  G.  H.  Goodrich.  Henry  Morris  was  reappointed  clerk  of 
the  vestry  and  George  B.  Webster  treasurer. 

•835- 

April  7,  1835,  George  B.  Webster,  Pierre  A.  Barker  and  Sylvester 
Matthews  were  appointed  a  committee  to  ascertain  whether  a  loan 
could  be  obtained  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  church  edifice.  April 
17,  1835,  the  clerk  of  the  vestry  was  authorized  to  execute  in  the  name 
of  the  parish  a  note  to  the  Rev.  William  Shelton  for  $234.60,  being  the 
balance  due  on  his  salary  to  Easter,  1835. 

At  the  annual  election,  April  20,  1835,  George  B.  Webster  and 
Henry  Hamilton  were  elected  wardens,  and  William  B.  Rochester, 
Sheldon  Thompson,  Lester  Brace,  Sylvester  Matthews,  George  E. 
Hayes,  Horatio  Stevens,  Pierre  A.  Barker  and  Jacob  A.  Barker,  ves- 
trymen. Dr.  Elliott  Burwell  was  appointed  clerk  of  the  vestry  on 
September  9,  1835.  (Pierre  A.  Barker  and  Jacob  A.  Barker  were  not 
kinsmen.) 

In  1835  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  was  elected  the  first  President  of  the 
Young  Men's  Association,  afterwards  the  Buffalo  Library. 


46  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 


1836. 

January  5,  1836,  atari  informal  meeting  of  the  vestry,  the  wardens 
not  being  present,  it  was  resolved  that  it  was  expedient  to  change 
the  location  of  the  church  edifice,  and  George  E.  Hayes,  Benjamin 
Rathbun  and  Pierre  A.  Barker  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
ascertain  what  the  church  property  could  be  sold  for,  and  what 
sites  could  be  obtained  for  a  new  edifice,  and  other  information  on 
the  subject. 

At  the  annual  election,  April  4,  1836,  George  B.  Webster  and  Henry 
Hamilton  were  elected  wardens,  and  Jacob  A.  Barker,  Pierre  A. 
Barker,  Sheldon  Thompson,  Josiah  Trowbridge,  Guy  H.  Goodrich,  R. 
H.  Hey  wood,  George  E.  Hayes  and  Richard  Sears,  vestrymen.  George 
B.  Webster  was  appointed  treasurer  by  the  vestry  on  April  5th.  It  was 
resolved  that  the  committee  appointed  January  5th  be  discharged  from 
the  further  consideration  of  changing  the  location  of  the  church,  and  it 
was  further  resolved  that  it  was  expedient  for  the  vestry  to  proceed  to 
erect  a  new  church  edifice  on  the  same  site.  George  B.  Webster,  R.  H. 
Heywood,  Henry  Hamilton,  Jacob  A.  Barker  and  Pierre  A.  Barker 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  procure  plans  and  estimates,  and 
devise  ways  and  means. 

September  12,  1836,  Elijah  Ford  was  appointed  clerk  of  the  vestry  ; 
at  the  same  meeting  it  was  resolved  that  the  rector  should  read  a  notice 
calling  a  meeting  of  those  desirous  of  forming  a  new  parish  in  Buffalo  ; 
in  the  ensuing  winter  Trinity  parish  was  organized  by  several  members 
from  St.  Paul's. 

1837- 

At  the  annual  election,  March  27,  1837,  George  B.  Webster  and 
Henry    Hamilton   were   elected    wardens,    and    Sheldon    Thompson, 


a    3* 
o    a) 


03  v^ 


•s,  o 


3* 

w  7* 


History  of  St.  Pau/'s  Church.  47 

Josiah  Trowbridge,  Jacob  A.  Barker,  R.  H.  Heywood,  George  E. 
Hayes,  William  Williams,  Stephen  Walker  and  Lester  Brace,  vestrymen. 
Elijah  Ford  was  appointed  clerk. 

September  19,  1837,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  raise  a  subscrip- 
tion to  paint  the  church  edifice. 


1838. 

At  the  annual  election  on  April  16,  1838,  George  B.  Webster  and 
Henry  Hamilton  were  elected  wardens,  and  R.  H.  Heywood,  Lester 
Brace,  Stephen  Walker,  George  E.  Hayes,  Josiah  Trowbridge,  Sheldon 
Thompson,  Jacob  A.  Barker  and  William  Williams,  vestrymen.  Elijah 
Ford  was  appointed  clerk,  and  George  B.  Webster  treasurer. 


1839. 

At  the  annual  election,  April  1,  1839,  George  B.  Webster  and 
Henry  Hamilton  were  elected  wardens,  and  William  Williams,  R.  H. 
Heywood,  Elijah  Ford,  Walter  Joy,  Stephen  Walker,  Lester  Brace, 
Sheldon  Thompson  and  Dr.  James  P.  White,  vestrymen.  Joseph  G. 
Masten  was  appointed  clerk,  and  George  B.  Webster  treasurer. 

April  23,  1839,  it  having  been  represented  to  the  vestry  that  many 
of  the  congregation  were  dissatisfied  with  the  church  music,  George 
B.  Webster,  Lester  Brace  and  Dr.  James  P.  White  were  appointed  a 
committee  on  music. 

184O. 

At  the  annual  election,  April  20,  1S40,  the  same  vestry  was 
reelected,  and  Joseph  G.  Masten  was  reappointed  clerk 


48  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 


1841. 

At  the  annual  election,  1S41,  the  same  vestry  was  reelected,  except 
that  Joseph  G.  Masten  was  elected  vestryman  in  place  of  Sheldon 
Thompson.  Jesse  Walker  was  appointed  clerk,  and  William  Williams 
treasurer.  A  note  was  authorized  to  be  given  to  the  Rev.  William 
Shelton  for  $833.69,  for  the  amount  due  on  his  salary  up  to  Easter, 
1841.  This  and  the  other  notes  to  the  rector  were  given  in  conse- 
quence of  the  non-payment  of  pew  taxes  to  the  amount  of  the  notes. 

June  7,  1841,  the  treasurer  reported  to  the  vestry  that  $1,650  would 
be  required  for  the  expenses  of  the  parish  up  to  Easter,  1842. 

August  11,  1841,  it  was  reported  to  the  vestry  that  $391.89  had 
been  received  for  timber  sold  from  the  "  Glebe  lot."  Taxes  on  the  lot 
$9.01  for  1841.     In  1841  St.  Paul's  was  newly  painted  and  fitted  up. 

March  26,  1842,  a  note  was  authorized  to  be  given  the  Rev.  William 
Shelton  for  $281.25,  for  the  amount  due  on  his  salary  up  to  Easter,  1842. 

1842. 

At  the  annual  election,  March  28,  1842,  George  B.  Webster  and 
Henry  Hamilton  were  elected  wardens,  and  R.  H.  Heywood,  Stephen 
Walker,  Joseph  G.  Masten,  Walter  Joy,  Lester  Brace,  Elijah  Ford, 
William  Williams,  Edward  S.  Warren,  vestrymen.  Jesse  Walker  was 
reappointed  clerk. 

1843. 

March  16,  1843,  William  Williams  made  a  full  written  report  on  the 
condition  of  the  organ. 

At  the  annual  election,  April  17,  1843,  George  B.  Webster  and 
Henry  Hamilton  were  elected  wardens,  and   R.  H.  Heywood,  Lester 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  49 

Brace,  Stephen  Walker,  William  Williams,  Josiah  Trowbridge,  Jacob  A. 
Barker,  Richard  Sears  and  Elijah  Ford,  vestrymen.  Jesse  Walker  was 
reappointed  clerk. 

The  election  of  April  17,  1S43,  was  quite  exciting,  church  music 
being  the  question  ;  57  votes  were  cast,  being  almost  three  times  the 
usual  number. 

1844. 

At  the  annual  election,  April  8,  1844,  the  vestry  of  1843  were  all 
reelected,  and  Jesse  Walker  was  reappointed  clerk,  and  William 
Williams  treasurer. 

April  11,  1844,  R.  H.  Heywood,  George  B.  Webster  and  William 
Williams  were  appointed  a  committee  to  purchase  a  rectory.  It  was 
resolved  to  make  a  plank  sidewalk  around  the  church.  It  was  also 
resolved  that  all  funds  received  from  sales  of  pews  should  be  appro- 
priated to  pay  the  debt  due  to  the  rector. 

May  22,  1S44,  it  was  resolved  to  make  a  sale  of  the  "Glebe  lot," 
and  to  use  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  in  purchasing  a  lot  in  the  city  for  a 
rectory.  William  Williams  and  Elijah  Ford  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  negotiate  the  sale  thereof.  It  was  also  resolved  that  Josiah 
Trowbridge,  George  B.  Webster,  R.  H.  Heywood  and  Stephen  Walker 
should  be  a  committee  to  enquire  into  the  practicability  of  building  a 
new  church  edifice  on  the  site  of  the  old  one,  and  to  collect  information 
relative  to  the  same. 

June  10,  1844,  R.  H.  Heywood  reported  that  he  had  purchased 
twenty-four  feet  on  Pearl  Street  at  $80  per  foot  for  the  rectory.  The 
vestry  also  determined  to  buy  the  additional  four  feet  front  of  Doctor 
Burwell,  adjoining  the  twenty-four  feet. 

November  15,  1844,  the  committee  appointed  to  sell  the  "Glebe 
lot"  reported  that  they  had  received  a  proposition  from  Moses  Cherry 
and  Samuel  F.  Gelston  to  purchase  the  lot  for$i,5oo,  being  $15  per  acre. 
The  vestry  accepted  the  proposition,  the  Court  of  Chancery  granted 
the  necessary  legal   consent  for  the  vestry  to  make  the  sale,  and  the 


50  History  of  St.  Paul's  ClnircJi. 

rector,  wardens  and  vestrymen  executed  the  deed  to  the  purchasers. 
The  land  was  on  the  Military  Road,  some  five  miles  from  St.  Paul's 
Church.  Forty  years  afterwards  it  would  have  sold  for  $400  per  acre, 
but  in  1844  $15  per  acre  was  about  the  usual  price.* 

I845- 

At  the  annual  election,  March  23,  1845,  George  B.  Webster  and 
Henry  Hamilton  were  elected  wardens,  and  William  Williams,  Lester 
Brace,  R.  H.  Heywood,  Jacob  A.  Barker,  Elijah  Ford,  Albert  Hayden, 
Alexander  H.  Caryl  and  Stephen  Walker,  vestrymen.  Asher  P. 
Nichols  was  appointed  clerk,  William  Williams  treasurer,  and  James 
D.  Sheppard  organist. 

March  26,  1845,  Albert  Hayden,  Grosvenor  Clark,  William  A. 
Thompson,  Silas  Heminway,  and  Walter  Joy  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  procure  subscriptions  for  the  building  of  a  rectory  on  the 
recently  purchased  twenty-eight  feet  front  on  the  west  side  of  Pearl 
Street,  south  of  Church  Street.  February  17,  1846,  R.  H.  Heywood, 
Albert  Hayden  and  Grosvenor  Clark  were  appointed  a  building  com- 
mittee for  the  erection  of  a  rectory  on  the  above-mentioned  lot. 

A  most  important  event  in  the  well-being  of  the  parish  took  place 
in  the  year  1845,  in  the  marriage  of  the  rector,  the  Rev.  William  Shel- 
ton,  D.  D.,  to  Mrs.  Lucretia  S.  Grosvenor.  They  were  married  in  the 
presence  of  a  very  large  congregation,  in  St.  Paul's  Church,  by  the  Rt. 
Rev.  William  Heathcote  De  Lancey,  D.  D.,  in  the  evening  of  April  7, 
1845.  Every  member  of  the  congregation  was  invited  to  the  wedding. 
The  reception  took  place  the  same  evening  at  the  rectory  on  the 
north-east  corner  of  Main  and  North  Division  streets,  and  was  largely 
attended.  Mrs.  Grosvenor  was  the  widow  of  Stephen  K.  Grosvenor, 
who  resided  on  Pearl  Street,  south  of  Swan  Street,  and  the  sister-in-law 
of  Seth  Grosvenor,  a  prominent  merchant  in  the  city  of  New  York. 

*  The  actual  selling  price  of  this  land  in  1S93  (forty-nine  years  after  the  sale) 
averaged  fifteen  hundred  dollars  per  acre,  the  100-acre  lot  having  therefore  become 
worth  $150,000 — just  100  times  what  the  church  sold  it  for  in  1844. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  51 

Before  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Grosvenor  she  was  Miss  Lucretia  Stanley, 
of  Geneva,  N.  Y. 

In  1845  St.  John's  Church  was  organized  by  several  members  from 
St.  Paul's  and  Trinity  parishes. 

1846. 

At  the  annual  election,  April  13,  1846,  George  B.  Webster  and  R. 
H.  Heywood  were  elected  wardens  and  William  Williams,  Lester  Brace, 
Alexander  H.  Caryl,  Elijah  Ford,  Albert  Hayden,  Grosvenor  Clark, 
Samuel  D.  Flagg  and  Stephen  Walker,  vestrymen.  At  a  meeting  of  the 
vestry,  April  27th,  Asher  P.  Nichols  was  elected  clerk,  and  William  Wil- 
liams treasurer  ;  and  George  C.  Webster,  DeWitt  C.  Weed,  and  William 
H.  Walker  were  appointed  a  committee  to  seat  strangers  and  others  in 
the  church  on  Sundays.  This  was  the  first  committee  appointed  in  the 
parish  to  attend  to  that  duty.  The  building  committee  was  authorized 
to  proceed  in  the  erection  of  the  rectory,  according  to  the  plans 
submitted  to  the  vestry,  and  to  collect  the  subscriptions  therefor. 

1847. 

March  14,  1847,  the  vestry  resolved  to  effect  a  loan  of  $r,6oo  on 
the  rectory,  for  the  purpose  of  completing  the  same.  Fifteen  hun- 
dred and  forty  dollars  was  subsequently  loaned. 

At  the  annual  election,  April  5,  1847,  George  B.  Webster  and  R. 
H.  Heywood  were  elected  wardens,  and  William  Williams,  Lester 
Brace,  Elijah  Ford,  Stephen  Walker,  Samuel  D.  Flagg,  Albert  Hayden, 
Grosvenor  Clark  and  Henry  Hagar,  vestrymen.  Asher  P.  Nichols  was 
appointed  clerk,  and  William  Williams  treasurer. 

The  rectory  on  the  west  side  of  Pearl  Street,  northerly  of  and 
near  Erie  Street,  was  completed  in  the  fall  of  1S47,  and  cost,  including 
the  lot  on  which  it  was  built,  the  sum  of  $8,075.72.  On  its  comple- 
tion the  Rev.  Doctor  Shelton  removed  into  it  from  his  residence  on 
the  north-east  corner  of  Main  and  North  Division  streets. 


52  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

1848. 

January  13,  1848,  the  vestry  adopted  a  communication  to  be  sub- 
mitted to  the  congregation,  calling  for  the  united  effort  of  the  parish 
to  erect  a  new  church  edifice,  and  at  a  subsequent  meeting  on  February 
1  st,  George  B.  Webster,  R.  H.  Hey  wood  and  William  Williams  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  correspond  with  Richard  Upjohn,  the  archi- 
tect, of  New  York  City,  and  to  invite  him  to  furnish  plans  and  esti- 
mates for  the  contemplated  church  edifice.  Mr.  Upjohn  was  the 
architect  of  Trinity  Church,  New  York  City. 

At  the  annual  election,  April  24,  1848,  George  B.  Webster  and 
R.  H.  Heywood  were  elected  wardens,  and  William  Williams,  Samuel 
D.  Flagg,  Henry  Hagar,  Stephen  Walker,  Lester  Brace,  Elijah  Ford, 
John  L.  Kimberly  and  Edward  L.  Stevenson,  vestrymen,  and  on  May 
30,  1848,  Charles  W.  Evans  was  appointed  clerk,  and  William  Williams 
treasurer. 

June  2,  1848,  Mr.  Heywood,  from  the  committee  on  the  valuation 
of  the  pews  in  the  contemplated  church  edifice,  made  a  report  accord- 
ing to  the  general  plan  of  Mr.  Upjohn,  in  which  the  pews  were  num- 
bered from  1  to  208,  with  the  valuations  from  $700  down  to  $75, 
making  an  aggregate  valuation  of  $71,020,  reserving  a  pew  for  the 
rector  and  twenty-two  pews  for  free  sittings. 

July  8,  1848,  the  vestry  adopted  the  form  of  the  subscription  paper 
to  raise  $48,000  for  the  contemplated  church  edifice,  the  subscriptions 
to  be  payable  in  six  equal  installments,  at  four,  eight,  twelve,  sixteen, 
twenty  and  twenty-four  months,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  was 
requested  to  obtain  the  subscriptions  for  the  said  amount.  The  paper 
was  copied  into  a  suitable  book  bound  in  red,*  and  Dr.  Shelton 
obtained  signatures  therein  for  the  full  sum  of  $48,000.  He  was  now 
fifty  years  of  age,  and  in  the  prime  of  life. 

*  See  appendix  for  the  several  subscription  lists,  from  1848  to  1871,  as  copied  from 
this  "  red  book,"  carried  by  Dr.  Shelton  for  so  many  years,  and  once  so  familiar  to  the 
older  parishioners. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 


53 


first  Subscription  Xist,  for  JSuilding  tbe  IHew  Cburcb,  IS4S.* 


COMPILED    1--RO.M    THE   TREASURERS    BOOK. 


Abel  Archer 

Jabez  B.  Bull 

Jacob  A.  Barker 

Benjamin  Brent 

Lester  Brace 

Ira  A.  Blossom 

Curtiss  L.  Brace 

George  N.  Burwell  ........ 

George  W.  Bull I 

George  L .  Burns 

A.  H.  Caryl I 

Mrs.  Sylvia  Chapin I 

H.  S.   Chamberiin 

B.  C.  Caryl  and  N.  H.  Warner.  . 

Henry  Colton I 

Philo  Dubois 

James  V.  DeWitt 

Charles  W.  Evans I 

Lewis  Eaton I 

James  C.  Evans 

Ellicott  Evans 

Elijah  Ford 

Austin  Flint 

Samuel  D.  Flagg 

David  Forbey 

Seth  H.  Grosvenor 

Guy  H.  Goodrich 

George  Gibson 

Russell  H.  Heywood   

Israel  T.  Hatch 

Robert  Hart 

Asa  E.  Hart 

Henry  Hagar 

Henry  Hamilton 

John    Hebard 

George  E.   Hayes 

Albert  Hayden 

Walter  Joy 

John  L.  Kimberly 

Robert  Kittle 

John  T.  Lacy 

A.  I.   Mathews 

Mrs.  E.  B.  Mathews 

S.  L.  Meech 


o<  i 
oo 
oo 

00 

oo 
oo 
oo 
oo 
oo 
oo 
oo 
oo 
oo 
00 
00 


50 
300 
500 
100 
400 
600 

200 

500 

100 

100 
400 

150 

200 

500 

360 

20000 
200  00 

,000  00 
300  00 
30000 
300  00 

,000  00 
100  00 
400  00 

5000 
300  00 
300  00 

5000 

,000  00 
,200  00 
300  00 
500  00 
,500  00 
400  00 
250  00 
500  00 
400  00 
,000  00 
,50000 
125  00 
250  00 
50000 
200  00 
100  00 


Thomas  Mathews 

Henry  Moore 

Asher  P.  Nichols     

John  Patterson 1 

John  Pease 

Mrs.  Lydia  Pomeroy   

James  P.   Provoost 

Loring  Peirce 

John  E.  Russell   

Jesse  Ralph 

Thomas  Savage 

J.  W.  Sanford 

Horatio  Seymour,  Jr 

Henry  K.   Smith 

Edward  L.  Stevenson 1 

William  Sutton 

Seth  E.  Sill 

Silas  Sawin 

William  Shelton 

Jeremiah  Staats 

James  D.  Sheppard 

John  D.  Shepard 

Henry  H.  Sizer 

Henry  Streater 

George  Truscott 

A.  Porter  Thompson 

Sheldon  Thompson 1 

Albert  H.  Tracy 1 

William  A.  Thompson 

Henry  K.  Viele 

Mrs.  S.  B.  Van  deVenter. .  . 

William  H.  Walker 

George  B.  Webster 3 

George  C.  Webster 

Nelson  Willard 

William  Williams ...  3 

F.  S.  Wheeler 

Edward  S.  Warren 

Mrs.  Louisa  M.  Weed 2 

DeWitt  C.  Weed 1 

Stephen  Walker 

G.  R.  Wilson 

George  J.  Webb 


100  00 
200  00 
100  00 
000  CO 
50000 
500  00 
500  CO 
10  00 
200  00 
100  00 
100  00 
100  00 
200  00 
500  00 
,000(00 
200  00 


00 
00 
00 
1  o 
00 
00 


500 
300 
500 
200 
500 
400 
500  00 
200  00 
500  00 
50000 
,400  00 
,000  00 
30000 
500  00 
300  00 
225  00 
,500  00 
500  00 
600  00 
100  00 
100  00 
700  00 
400  00 
20000 
250  00 
500  00 
20000 


$48,870.00 


*  The  above  is  the  subscription  list  of  the  building  fund  of  1848,  compiled  from  the  Treasurer's 
book,  and  being  for  the  $48,000  raised  by  the  exertions  of  Dr.  Shelton.     It  will  be  noticed  that  the 


54  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

October  16,  1848,  the  vestry  resolved  that  the  plans  and  estimates 
of  the  contemplated  church  edifice,  furnished  by  Mr.  Upjohn,  be  re- 
turned to  him,  and  that  he  be  requested  so  to  modify  them  as  to  reduce 
the  whole  expense  to  an  amount  as  near  fifty  thousand  dollars  as  could 
be  done,  without  materially  changing  the  plans. 

December  14,  1848,  the  vestry  ordered  to  be  recorded  in  the  vestry 
book  the  agreement  made  by  the  pew  owners  that  they  would  surren- 
der the  pews  in  the  old  edifice  at  a  reduced  valuation  for  a  propor- 
tionate value  in  the  new  edifice,  instead  of  requiring  corresponding 
pews  in  the  new  edifice.  In  the  agreement  it  is  stated  that  the 
old  edifice  was  inadequate  to  the  accommodation  of  the  congregation 
and  to  the  increase  of  the  population  of  the  city,  that  they  hoped  to  be 
able  by  a  united  and  vigorous  effort  on  the  part  of  the  parish  to  erect 
an  edifice  to  the  glory  of  God  which  would  be  attractive  and  command- 
ing in  its  architectural  proportions,  taste  and  beauty,  and  which  would 
be  creditable  to  the  zeal  and  enterprise  of  the  parish  and  city,  and 
remain  an  object  of  delight  and  affectionate  attachment  and  reverence 
to  their  children,  and  for  generations  to  come.  The  agreement  was 
signed  by  DeWitt  C.  Weed,  Henry  Hagar,  Grosvenor  Clark,  Nelson 
Willard,  R.  H.  Heywood,  George  B.  Webster,  George  E.  Hayes,  Henry 
Hamilton,  Edward  L.  Stevenson,  James  D.  Long,  Jacob  A.  Barker,  A. 
H.  Caryl,  Ira  A.  Blossom,  William  Williams,  Benjamin  C.  Caryl,  Lewis 
Eaton,  John  Patterson,  Sheldon  Thompson,  James  L.  Barton,  Lester 
Brace,  James  P.  Provoost,  John  L.  Kimberly,  John  Pease,  Walter  Joy, 
Lucius    H.  Pratt,  Guy  H.  Goodrich,  Elijah  Ford,  Albert  H.  Tracy, 

subscriptions  as  given  amount  to  $48,870.  Several  of  the  subscriptions  were  not  paid  —  the  amount 
really  collected  being  something  over  $48,000.  These  subscriptions  were  made  in  the  form  of  pur- 
chase of  stock  in  the  new  church,  the  subscribers  receiving  deeds  of  pews  in  proportion  to  the 
amounts  of  their  several  subscriptions.  It  is  also  well  to  remark  that  the  above  list  represents  less 
than  one  third  of  the  entire  amount  given  for  the  building  of  the  church.  There  were  many  sub- 
sequent subscription  lists  circulated,  and  large  additional  sums  were  given  by  the  same  men  and 
women  who  subscribed  to  this  1848  list,  and  also  by  many  whose  names  do  not  appear  at  all  in  this 
list.  The  above  list  is  interesting,  however,  as  showing  the  names  of  those  who  subscribed  when 
it  was  first  decided  to  build  the  new  church.  As  given,  it  is  arranged  alphabetically  ;  the  origi- 
nal list  was  headed  with  the  $5,000  given  by  Mr.  Russell  H.  Heywood,  then,  and  for  many  years, 
one  of  the  wardens  of  the  parish.     See  appendix  for  original  and  subsequent  lists. 


V.    > 

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History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  55 

Josiah  Trowbridge,  George  W.  Allen,  Henry  H.  Sizer,  John  T.  Lacy, 
Seth  E.  Sill,  John  Hebard,  Edward  S.  Warren,  John  E.  Russell. 

1849. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  held  at  the  house  of  George  B.  Webster,  on 
Swan  Street,  west  of  Franklin  Street,  March  28,  1S49,  Richard  Upjohn, 
the  architect,  submitted  his  new  plans,  dated  in  1849,  by  adopting  which 
the  cost  of  the  contemplated  church  edifice  would  be  reduced  to 
$50,872,  being  $16,772  for  stone  work,  $16,900  for  stone  cutting,  $15,700 
for  carpenter  work  and  materials,  and  $1,500  for  stained  glass.  Add 
to  the  $50,872  the  sum  of  $2,544  for  Mr.  Upjohn's  commissions,  and 
$1,500  for  the  superintendeni's  time,  would  make  it  $54,916.  Mr. 
Upjohn  stated  that  if  the  proposed  chapel  were  left  off,  the  cost  would 
be  reduced  $5,740,  and  that  if  a  certain  uniform  quality  of  the  red  sand- 
stone could  be  procured,  the  stone  cutters  estimated  the  stone  cutting 
to  be  $4,000  less  than  the  Lockport  gray  limestone,  which  was  originally 
designed  to  be  used. 

Mr.  Williams,  Mr.  Webster  and  Mr.  Upjohn  went  to  Lockport  on 
the  29th  of  March  and  returned  next  day,  and  reported  it  was  thought 
that  sufficient  of  the  red  sandstone  could  be  procured.  A  quarry  of 
the  red  sandstone  was  subsequently  purchased  at  Hulburton,  on  the 
Erie  Canal,  east  of  Lockport.* 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  held  at  the  house  of  George  B.Webster,  it 
was  resolved  that  the  plans  of  Mr.  Upjohn,  for  the  church  edifice,  dated 

*January  31,  1S50,  in  the  minutes  of  the  building  committee's  meetings,  this 
quarry  is  described  : —  "A  purchase  at  Hulburton  of  Samuel  Copeland  of  from  three 
to  four  acres  of  stone  quarry  on  the  south-west  corner  of  his  wood  lot,  in  the  name  of 
Mr.  Streater.  The  deed  to  be  taken  on  March  1st  next  and  paid  for  at  the  rate  of  $So 
per  acre."  This  was  reported  by  Mr.  Williams  (the  superintendent)  and  Mr. 
Streater,  who  had  been  sent  to  Hulburton  by  the  committee.  In  the  account  book, 
under  date  March  7,  1850,  is  the  entry  : — 

"To  purchase  of  quarry  of    Samuel  Copeland,   Hulburton,  by  Henry 
Streater,  conveyed  to  him $272  "2 


56  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

in  1S49,  be  adopted,  and  carried  out  as  far  as  the  present  or  future  sub- 
scriptions would  permit,  discontinuing,  if  necessary,  the  main  tower  at 
the  lowest  part  compatible  with  the  completion  of  the  main  building. 

The  vestry  having  resolved  to  build  the  church  edifice,  it  is  inter- 
esting to  note  the  financial  condition  of  the  parish.  William  Williams, 
the  treasurer,  made  his  annual  report  to  the  vestry  on  the  9th  of  April, 
1849,  in  which  he  stated  that  the  receipts  for  pew  rents  for  the  year 
ending  on  that  day  were  $1,964.63,  and  the  disbursements  were 
$1,900.27.  The  rector's  salary  was  $1,200,  and  $1,000  was  due  him 
for  the  salary  of  the  previous  year,  and  $1,000  was  due  to  him  on  his 
year's  salary  up  to  April  9,  1849.  The  treasurer  also  reported  that 
$1,486.50  was  due  for  pew  rents,  of  which  only  $437.96  was  available- 

The  annual  election  was  held  on  Easter  Monday,  April  9,  1849. 
George  B.  Webster  and  R.  H.  Heywood  were  elected  wardens,  and 
Lester  Brace,  William  Williams,  Samuel  D.  Flagg,  Stephen  Walker, 
John  L.  Kimberly,  Henry  Hagar,  Edward  L.  Stevenson,  Elijah  Ford, 
vestrymen.  Charles  W.  Evans  was  reappointed  clerk,  and  William 
Williams  treasurer. 

May  21,  1849,  R.  H.  Heywood,  E.  L.  Stevenson,  George  B.  Webster, 
Sheldon  Thompson  and  William  Williams  were  constituted  the  building 
committee  for  the  erection  of  the  church  edifice.  Sheldon  Thompson, 
being  unable  to  serve,  declined,  and  Jacob  A.  Barker  was  appointed  in 
his  place  * 

July  9,  1849,  the  vestry  authorized  the  building  committee  to 
appoint  Thomas  R.  Williams  of  New  Jersey  to  superintend  the  erec- 
tion of  the  church  edifice,  at  a  salary  not  exceeding  $1,000  per  annum, 
he  having  been  recommended  for  the  position  by  Mr.  Upjohn. 

*  The  work  of  this  committee  was  by  no  means  an  easy  task.  The  old  records 
and  account-books,  in  the  handwriting  of  Jacob  A.  Barker,  the  treasurer  of  the 
building  fund,  and  others,  show  the  great  amount  of  labor  undertaken  by  the  com- 
mittee. They  made  all  of  their  own  contracts,  hired  the  men,  and  attended  to  all  the 
details  of  the  work,  which  are  now  usually  relegated  to  the  head  contractors.  Page 
after  page  of  the  names  of  the  men  who  worked  on  the  building,  with  the  hours  each 
worked  per  week,  and  the  amounts  paid  them,  are  found  in  the  old  records.     The 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Chare  It.  57 

August  10,  1849,  the  rector  having  announced  the  death  of  Wil- 
liam Williams  —  one  of  the  vestry  and  the  treasurer  of  the  parish,  and 
one  of  the  building  committee  —  suitable  resolutions  were  adopted  stat- 
ing that  his  attachment  to  the  church,  her  institutions,  sacraments  and 
appointments,  his  liberality  upon  every  proper  occasion,  his  steady 
adhesion  to  principle,  his  uniform  correctness  of  demeanor,  his  enlight- 
ened views,  sound  judgment  and  efficient  conduct,  had  secured  the 
lasting  esteem  and  respect  of  the  vestry. 

Eliza  Hollister  Williams,  the  wife  of  the  deceased,  was  stricken 
with  cholera  at  Niagara  Falls,  and  he  had  symptoms  of  it  in  Buffalo  ; 
he  immediately  went  to  her  and  they  both  died  at  the  Falls,  on  August 
1,  1849,  each  aged  fifty- five  years,  and  were  buried  in  one  grave  at  the 
same  time,  in  Buffalo.  They  left  one  child,  John  XV.  Williams.  William 
Williams  and  his  wife  had  resided  in  Buffalo  for  twenty-five  years. 

August  20,  1849,  the  vestry  appointed  Jacob  A.  Barker  treasurer 
of  the  parish,  and  DeWitt  C.  Weed  as  one  of  the  building  committee, 
in  place  of  William  Williams,  deceased.  Early  in  September,  1849, 
the  stone  foundation  for  the  church  edifice  was  commenced  on  that 
part  of  the  lot  on  the  corner  of  Church  and  Pearl  streets. 

Charles  XV.  Evans,  William  H.  Walker,  George  C.  Webster,  DeWitt 
C.  Weed,  Benjamin  F.  Green  and  Augustus  A.  Goodrich  were  appointed 
a  committee  to  dress  the  church  for  Christmas,  1849,  being  the  last 
time  the  old  edifice  was  so  dressed  ;  several  of  the  young  ladies  of  the 
congregation  were  associated  with  them.  The  first  four  of  the  com- 
mittee were  then  prominent,  and  had  been  since  1847,  and  were  so  for 
many  years  afterwards,  as  the  "junior vestry "  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  so 
termed  from  their  interest  in  parish  affairs  and  in  the  construction  of 


following  entry  in  the  building  committee's  minutes  may  not  be  uninteresting,  as 
showing  what  were  considered  fair  wages  to  workmen  at  that  time  :  Under  date  of 
March  7,  1S50  :  —  "It  was  determined  that  Mr.  Williams  be  authorized  to  hire  Mr. 
George  Riker  to  superintend  the  carpenter  and  joiner  work  of  the  church,  provided 
he  will  engage  for  two  dollars  per  day,  and  that  he  also  employ  a  number  of  masons, 
competent  to  do  the  rubble  work,  at  a  price  not  exceeding  1  3  shillings  (Si. 63)  per  day." 


58 


History  of  St.  Paul's  C/iurc/i. 


the  new  edifice,  and  for  their  efforts  in  influencing  contributions  for 

the  building  fund.     Three  of  them,  Messrs.  Evans,  Weed  and  Walker, 

became  vestrymen  in  after  years,  and  two  of  them,  Messrs.  Evans  and 

Walker,  became  wardens.     Mr.  George  C.  Webster  was  afterwards  one 

of  the  founders,  and  also  warden  of  the  Church  of  the  Ascension. 

A  building  fund  association  was  formed  October  24,  1847,  by  most  if 

not  all  the  young  persons  in  the  parish,  to  contribute  from  time  to  time 

small  sums  for  the  proposed  edifice.     Nearly  $1,600  was  the  amount  of 

their  contributions  by  the  year  1849.     In  January,   1848,  the  young 

ladies  of  the  congregation  formed  their  society  for  the  same  object.* 

*The  St.  Paul's  Building  Fund  Association  was  formed  October  24,  1847,  there 
being  present  at  the  first  meeting  Charles  W.  Evans,  George  C.  Webster,  William  H. 
Walker  and  DeWitt  C.  Weed.  Subsequently  a  constitution  was  adopted  and  officers 
elected  — namely,  three  trustees,  George  B.  Webster,  Russell  H.  Heywood  and  Wil- 
liam Williams,  all  from  the  vestry,  and  DeWitt  C.  Weed  was  appointed  secretary.  It 
will  thus  be  seen  that  the  first  concerted  work  for  the  building  of  the  new  church 
edifice  was  begun  by  the  four  young  men  named  above,  and  who  in  after  years  con- 
tinued to  be  most  active  and  liberal  in  promoting  the  prosperity  of  the  parish.  The 
names  of  those  who  joined  the  association  were  as  follows,  their  original  signatures 
being  in  the  book  of  the  minutes  of  the  association  : 


Charles  W.  Evans, 
George  C.  Webster, 
DeWitt  C.  Weed, 
Wm.  H.  Walker, 
John  W.  Williams, 
George  T.  Weed, 
John  E.  Hart, 
A.  I.  Mathews, 
N.  I!.  Barrows, 
Robert  Kittle, 
J.  B.  Eaton, 
Walter  Joy, 
J.  H.  Lee, 
Geo.  Truscott,  Jr  , 
S    H.  Grosvenor, 
George  J.  Webb, 
James  Van  de  Venter, 
O.  H.  P.  Champlin, 
Horatio  Seymour,  Jr., 
Lewis  B.  Joy, 
William  Shelton, 
William  E.  Woodruff, 


Charles  R.  Heywood, 
Nathaniel  Cooper, 
A.  H.   Caryl, 
John  E.  Russell, 
Asher  P.  Nichols, 
Elijah  Ford, 
Henry  Moore, 
Henry  Colton, 
Sheldon  Thompson, 
John  W.  Heywood, 
Geo.  E.  Hayes, 
John   Pease, 
Jacob  A.  Barker, 
Samuel  D.  Flagg, 
Henry  W    Ford, 
Francis  W.  Tracy, 
A.  Haller  Tracy, 
Miss  L.  A.  D.  Hubbard, 
Miss  Lucy  Anna  Blossom, 
Miss  S.  Louisa  Weed, 
Miss  Julia  M.  Webster, 
Miss  H.  J.  Webster, 


Miss  Jane  R.  Webster, 
Miss  C.  B.  Webster, 
Mrs.  Jacob  A.  Barker, 
Mrs.  Elijah  Ford, 
Mrs.  S.  D.  Flagg, 
Miss  M.  Ruden, 
Mrs.  George  E.  Hayes, 
Mrs.  John  Pease, 
Mrs.  Louisa  M.  Weed, 
Mrs.  Sylvia  Chapin, 
Mathew  O'Neill, 
Henry  E    Wells, 
S.  D.  Flagg,  Jr., 

C.  E.  Marsh, 
Mrs.  E.  J.  Root, 

D.  H.  Hawkins, 
Caroline  Grosvenor, 
Geo.  N.  Burwell, 
Mrs.  Mary  Kimberly, 
R.  A.  Richardson, 
Thomas  Jones, 
Stephen  Walker. 


I   ?0  FT. 

Width  A  A  FT. 


PLAN  OF  ST.  PAUL'S  FRAME  CHURCH. 

As  it  was  after  its  enlargement  in  1828  up  to  its  removal  in  1850,  with  names  of  pew 
holders  in  1849,  inserted  from  the  old  records. 


From  drawing  by  John  Hefford,  1849. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  59 

l850. 

March  S,  1850,  the  building  committee  reported  that  they  had  sold 
the  old  church  edifice  to  the  German  Evangelical  Church  of  Buffalo 
for  $800,  including  all  above  the  foundation,  the  carpets  in  the  aisles, 
glass  chandeliers,  side  lamps,  stoves  and  the  cushions  belonging  to  the 
desk  and  pulpit,  but  reserving  the  bell,*  organ  and  font,  and  all  other 
furniture  belonging  to  the  church. 

The  building  committee  also  reported  that  they  had  rented  Clinton 
Hall,  on  the  south-east  corner  of  Clinton  and  Washington  streets,  for 
one  year,  from  March  17,  1850,  for  $210  rent,  in  which  to  conduct  the 
worship  of  the  parish.  Clinton  Hall,  in  after  years,  was  converted  into 
a  church  for  the  French  Roman  Catholics.  The  annual  expenses  of 
the  parish  were  assessed  on  the  pews  in  Clinton  Hall  for  the  year 
ending  Easter,  185 1,  and  the  church  organ  was  removed  to  the  gallery 
therein. 

The  last  service  in  the  old  church  edifice  was  held  on  Sunday, 
March  17,  1S50. 

The  "Buffalo  Commercial  Advertiser"  of  March  9,  1850,  said  that 
"the  estimable  rector  who  had  occupied  the  pulpit  of  St.  Paul's  for  over 
twenty  years  must  part  with  the  old  edifice,  wherein  he  had  so  long  min- 
istered in  holy  things,  with  many  heart-felt  regrets,  and  that  despite  all 
our  philosophy,  all  our  ideas  of  progress,  and  of  utilitarian  adaptation, 
there  are  memories  in  associations  which  are  sacred  and  cannot  be 
broken  without  emotion."  A  correspondent  of  the  same  paper  of 
March  16th,  remarked,  in  relation  to  the  same  subject,  that  "there  were 
those  in  that  day  who  thought  of  their  happiest  and  brightest  years  as 
connected  with  the  consecrated  place.  It  was  beneath  its  paternal 
roof  that  they  first  breathed  their  earliest  aspirations  for  all  that  was 
good  and  pure  and  holy.  It  was  there  they  had  learned  many  a 
dear   lesson   of   life    in   the  calm    moments  of  worship,  listening    to 

*  This  bell  was  afterwards  hung  in  the  small  tower  of  the  new  church  edifice. 


60  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

the  solemn  liturgy  of  the  church,  or  hearing  the  good  words  of  that 
good  man  who  had  watched  over  them  as  they  ripened  from  infancy 
into  mature  age.  It  was  there  that  those  came  whose  hearts  were 
oppressed  with  weariness,  fleeing  from  the  world,  and  hoping  as 
they  knelt  to  share  the  influence  of  that  holy  place.  How  many  a 
breathing  sigh,  how  many  a  heart-felt  prayer,  had  been  offered  there 
and  strength  given  to  meet  the  sad  things  of  the  world.  Some  bright 
scenes  of  life  remain  for  the  memory  to  rest  upon  of  friendships  early 
formed  and  never  broken,  of  cherished  ties  of  sympathy  and  affec- 
tion, and  before  that  altar  hearts  had  been  given  unto  hearts  for  all 
coming  time." 

Dr.  Shelton  preached  his  farewell  sermon  in  the  old  edifice,  on 
March  17,  1850,  from  the  text  in  the  60th  chapter  of  Isaiah  and  22d 
verse,  "A  little  one  shall  become  a  thousand,  and  a  small  one  a  strong 
nation."  He  alluded  to  the  more  than  thirty  years  gone  by,  where 
upon  the  place  that  this  house  of  God  had  so  long  stood,  there  was  a 
bare  and  uncultivated  commons,  in  the  small  and  inconsiderable  village, 
not  exceeding  1,000  or  1,500  souls.  No  affluence  then  prevailed.  He 
then  referred  to  the  new  city  filled  with  lofty  edifices,  costly  structures 
and  graced  by  much  that  is  elegant  and  adorned  by  that  which  is 
useful.  He  contrasted  the  present  with  the  original  congregation,  how 
great  was  the  labor,  how  much  the  sacrifice  which  they  undertook  and 
accomplished,  who  from  the  midst  of  such  comparative  poverty,  with 
such  feeble  numbers,  erected  this  edifice  and  dedicated  it  to  the  worship 
of  God.  Honor  and  praise  to  the  good  hearts  and  faithful  spirits,  the 
zealous  and  proper-minded  men  and  women  who  allowed  not  their 
scanty  means  to  stand  between  them  and  the  accomplishment  of  the 
object  more  valuable  to  themselves,  to  their  children,  to  the  true  pros- 
perity and  well-being  of  the  land  in  which  they  lived,  than  any  other 
thing  !  Thousands  have  enjoyed  essential  benefits  and  been  blessed  in 
their  religion,  crowned  with  happiness  and  eternal  glory,  through  the 
means  provided  for  their  worship  in  this  time-honored  house  of  prayer. 
But  such  is  the  instability  of  all  earthly  things,  such  the  shortness  and 


THE     REVEREND     DR.    SHELTOM. 
At  about  the  age  of  tifty-two. 


From  a  Daguerreotype  made 
about  the  year  1850. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  61 

uncertainty  of  life,  that  but  few  remain  within  these  walls,  this  day, 
who  were  instrumental  in  their  erection.  A  few,  thinly  scattered  over 
this  assembly,  remain  to  take  their  leave  of  an  edifice  in  which  they 
have  had  a  strong  interest  from  its  first  commencement,  and  continued 
with  unshaken  attachment  during  all  its  being,  surviving  the  loss  of 
friends  and  associates,  and  adhering  to  it  with  firmness  and  constancy 
through  all  the  varying  fortunes  of  so  many  changes  and  so  many 
trials.  He  spoke  of  his  long  ministry  of  twenty  years  in  the  old  edifice, 
and  the  thankfulness  he  felt  that  he  had  been  permitted  so  many  years 
in  comparative  peace  and  prosperity.  Change  upon  change  had  marked 
the  footsteps  of  others,  either  death  or  a  desire  of  change,  or  the  com- 
mon accidents  of  life  had  removed  from  every  other  pulpit  its  occu- 
pant. During  a  very  long  period  he  had  been,  he  hoped,  he  trusted, 
he  almost  believed,  their  faithful  pastor,  companion  and  friend.  He 
would  take  the  occasion  to  say  that  for  all  they  had  done,  felt  for  him, 
and  forgiven  him,  he  gave  them  his  hearty  thanks,  and  the  assurance 
that  there  should  be  a  renewed  effort  to  do  his  duty  with  increasing 
zeal  and  a  hope  that  future  exertions  would  be  crowned  with  more 
complete  success. 

He  spoke  of  the  honored  dead,  the  good  they  had  done,  and  that 
we  had  parted  from  both  old  and  young,  some  of  our  best,  kindest, 
truest,  most  faithful  and  trusty  friends.  He  recounted  some  of  the 
many  acts  which  had  been  done  by  him.  There  had  been  baptized  in 
the  parish  1,106,  of  which  950  were  within  the  last  twenty  years; 
336  had  been  confirmed  ;  348  marriages  had  been  solemnized,  of 
which  273  were  by  himself;  the  burials  had  been  459.  He 
spoke  of  the  instability  of  popular  favor  as  among  the  evils  to 
be  looked  for  in  the  future ;  the  discontent  and  dissatisfaction  of 
any  portion  of  a  congregation,  whether  reasonable  or  just,  or  not,  is 
always  sufficient  to  destroy  its  peace,  and  take  away  the  happiness  and 
usefulness  of  its  minister  ;  and  that  this  state  of  things  had  been  essen- 
tially averted  for  so  many  years,  was  only  to  be  attributed  to  the  pro- 
tecting care  and    preventing   grace  of  God.     He  spoke  of  the  great 


62  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

enterprise  of  the  contemplated  church  edifice,  and  said  that  having 
but  one  heart  and  one  will,  actuated  by  no  selfish  emotions,  moved 
by  but  one  impulse,  controlled  by  one  absorbing  thought,  that  of 
building  and  completing  without  debt  the  noble  structure  then  com- 
menced, they  would  raise  a  monument  more  enduring  than  marble 
and  more  valuable  than  all  the  mere  mausoleums  of  the  world. 
With  God's  blessing  they  would  provide  for  themselves,  their  chil- 
dren and  their  children's  children,  for  ages  to  come,  a  house  of 
worship  wherein  the  church  and  doctrines  of  Christ  should  be  taught 
in  perfect  truth  and  perfect  simplicity.  "  How  many  yet  unborn  will 
call  you  blessed." 

At  the  annual  election,  held  in  Clinton  Hall  on  Easter  Monday, 
April  i,  1850,  Rev.  Doctor  Shelton  presiding,  George  B.  Webster  and 
R.  H.  Heywood  were  elected  wardens,  and  Lester  Brace,  John  L. 
Kimberly,  Stephen  Walker,  Henry  Hagar,  Samuel  D.  Flagg,  Edward 
L.  Stevenson,  Elijah  Ford  and  Edward  S.Warren,  vestrymen;  Charles 
W.  Evans  was  reappointed  clerk,  and  Jacob  A.  Barker,  treasurer.  A 
bond  for  $1,562,  dated  April  1,  1850,  was  given  to  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Shelton  for  arrears  of  salary  due  to  him  on  that  day. 

The  corner-stone  of  the  new  church  edifice  was  laid  on  June  12, 
1850,  by  the  Right  Rev.  William  Heathcote  DeLancey,  D.  D.,  LL.  D., 
Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Western  New  York.  The  preliminary 
services  were  held  in  St.  John's  Church,  on  the  corner  of  Wash- 
ington and  Swan  streets,  a  very  large  congregation  being  present, 
after  which  a  procession  was  formed,  and,  preceded  by  the  wardens 
and  vestrymen  of  St.  Paul's,  Trinity  and  St.  John's  churches,  walked 
to  the  foundation  of  St.  Paul's,  where  the  ceremony  of  laying  the 
corner-stone  was  performed  at  eleven  o'clock,  according  to  the  pre- 
scribed form  by  the  Bishop.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  then  delivered  an 
appropriate  and  eloquent  address,  which  was  listened  to  with  deep 
interest  by  a  large  audience.  After  which  the  choir  sang  the  Gloria 
in  Excelsis.  Many  of  the  clergy  from  Canada,  Western  New  York 
and  Buffalo  were  present. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  63 

Besides  the  usual  articles  deposited  in  the  corner-stone,*  there  was 
placed  in  it  a  brief  history  of  the  parish  inscribed  on  parchment,  and 
the  silver  plate  taken  from  the  corner-stone  of  the  old  edifice  erected 
in  1819.  The  corner-stone  was  marked  1850,  and  was  placed  in  the 
easterly  corner  of  one  of  the  north-easterly  angles  of  the  edifice,  in  front 
of  the  easterly  side  of  the  chancel. 

Lester  Brace,  R.  H.  Heywood  and  Charles  W.  Evans  were  appointed 
lay  deputies  to  the  Diocesan  Convention  in  Geneva,  August  21,  1850. 

September  3,  1850,  the  vestry  resolved  to  consolidate  the  debts  of 
the  parish,  including  the  debt  incurred  for  building  the  rectory  in 
1847,  by  executing  a  mortgage  on  the  rectory  for  $3,500,  in  favor 
of  the  Mutual  Insurance  Company  of  Buffalo,  they  having  loaned  the 
parish  that  amount. 

185.. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  March  7,  1S51,  R.  H.  Heywood  stated 
that  the  object  was  to  take  into  consideration  the  proposed  visit  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  to  Europe,  they  granting  him  leave  of  absence 
and  advancing  sufficient  funds  to  defray  his  expenses.  Doctor  Shelton 
then  stated  to  the  vestry  that,  if  consistent  with  their  views,  it  would 
give  him  much  pleasure  to  carry  into  effect  the  purpose  he  had  long 
contemplated  of  visiting  England  and  of  becoming  better  acquainted 
with  the  Church  of  England  ;  that  he  thought  an  absence  of  six 
months  from  his  duties  would  be  beneficial  to  him,  and  that  he  knew 
of  no  more  fitting  time  than  the  present  to  visit  Europe.     Charles  W. 

*  Within  the  stone  were  deposited  the  following  documents  :  Holy  Bible,  Book 
of  Common  Prayer,  copies  of  the  "Churchman,"  and  "  Gospel  Messenger,"  Constitu- 
tion and  Canons  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States,  Constitution 
and  Canons  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  Western  New  York,  Journal  of  the 
last  General  and  Diocesan  Conventions,  silver  plate  taken  from  the  corner-stone  of  the 
Old  Church  ;  a  brief  history  of  St.  Paul's  Parish  from  its  organization  in  1S17  to  the 
present  time,  inscribed  on  parchment  ;  a  list  of  the  members  of  St.  Paul's  Church  building 
fund,  and  also  the  names  of  subscribers  to  the  edifice  now  in  process  of  erection,  inscribed 
in  the  same  manner  ;  the  daily  papers  of  Buffalo  of  the  date  of  June  11  and  12,  1850. 


64  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

Evans  and  John  Pease  were  accordingly  appointed  a  committee  to 
collect  subscriptions  for  the  proposed  trip. 

Sheldon  Thompson  died  March  13, 185 1,  in  the  sixty-sixth  year  of  his 
age.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  St.  Paul's  parish,  and  a  member  of 
its  first  vestry  in  1817,  and  also  of  the  vestries  of  1818  to  1822,  and  of 
1830  to  1840.  He  married  Catherine,  the  daughter  of  Benjamin  Bar- 
ton, and  sister  of  James  L.  Barton,  resided  at  Black  Rock,  near  Buffalo, 
in  1817,  and  removed  to  Buffalo  in  1827,  and  was  one  of  the  vestry  of 
Grace  Church,  organized  at  Black  Rock  in  1824.  He  and  his  imme- 
diate family  were  liberal  contributors  in  building  the  new  church  edi- 
fice of  St.  Paul's,  and  his  influence  with  those  families  connected  with 
him  by  relationship,  by  marriage  and  by  business  arrangements,  was 
very  beneficial  to  St.  Paul's.  These  families  were  the  Barton  family, 
Kimberly  family,  Pease  family  and  the  Brace  family  ;  all  lived  at  Black 
Rock,  and  all  removed  to  Buffalo  in  1827,  and  all  of  them  contributed 
much  to  the  well-being  of  the  parish.  Sheldon  T.  Pease  and  John 
Pease  were  the  nephews  of  Sheldon  Thompson.  The  father  of  John 
L.  Kimberly  married  Mary,  the  sister  of  Sheldon  Thompson,  for  his 
second  wife.  Peter  B.  Porter  and  his  wife  and  children,  and  William  A. 
Bird  and  his  family,  although  residents  of  Black  Rock,  were  considered 
as  parishioners  of  St.  Paul's. 

The  funeral  of  Sheldon  Thompson  took  place  on  March  16th  from 
Trinity  Church,  St  Paul's  being  still  unfinished.  It  was  largely  at- 
tended by  both  congregations.  Dr.  Shelton,  in  his  sermon,  said  that 
the  deceased  was  "  an  example  of  probity,  of  uprightness,  of  frugality 
in  a  world  where  costliness  and  extravagance  were  honored.  His 
name  was  associated  with  the  commerce  and  enterprise  of  all  this  world 
of  waters,  our  inland  seas.  His  own  history  is  a  record  of  the  more 
important  events  of  the  western  country  ;  his  sagacious  mind  early 
saw  that  there  was  to  be  a  field  of  successful  effort  which  far  surpassed 
the  less  stirring  scenes  of  his  native  land,  and  he  came  in  the  true  spirit 
of  enterprise  to  plant  himself  down  upon  a  portion  of  country  destined, 
he  foresaw,  to  be  unsurpassed.     The  commerce  of  these  lakes  and  the 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  65 

business  of  this  vast  section  of  the  country  was  then  transacted  by  him- 
self and  his  associates.  None  but  a  mind  peculiarly  fitted  for  business 
could  have  been  successful  in  so  large  an  enterprise.  His  labors  were 
crowned  with  success,  and  for  years  he  reposed  from  his  cares,  enjoying 
domestic  comfort,  peace  of  mind,  rest  from  labor,  and  the  consciousness 
of  having  deserved  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  men  and  the  respect  and 
regard  of  those  best  fitted  to  know  his  worth."  Catherine,  his  wife, 
died  May  8,  1832.  His  children  and  grand-children  were  all  members  of 
St.  Paul's,  and  his  son,  A.  Porter  Thompson,*  and  two  of  his  sons-in-law, 
Edward  S.  Warren  and  Henry  K.  Viele,  were  vestrymen  of  the  parish. 

Charles  W.  Evans  and  John  Pease,  having  been  appointed  by  the 
vestry  a  committee  to  collect  subscriptions  for  the  expenses  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  to  and  from  Europe,  reported  on  the  2d  of  April,  1851, 
that  they  had  collected  $843.  The  vestry  granted  the  leave  of  absence, 
and  directed  that  $600  for  the  rector's  salary  for  six  months  from  Easter 
Monday,  April  21,  185 1,  be  paid  to  him  in  advance,  in  addition  to  the 
subscription  collected  by  the  committee.  Dr.  Shelton  left  Buffalo  April 
7th,  and  sailed  from  New  York,  in  the  steamer  "Baltic,"  on  April  16, 
185 1.  The  vestry  directed  that  the  lease  of  Clinton  Hall  be  given  up 
and  the  possession  of  the  hall  surrendered  to  the  lessors  on  Easter 
Monday,  April  21,  1851,  which  was  accordingly  done. 

The  congregation  mostly  attended  Trinity  and  St.  John's  churches, 
and  the  Sunday  School  was  held  in  McArthur's  Hall  on  Washington 
Street,  near  Eagle  Street.  The  organ  was  removed  from  Clinton  Hall 
to  the  basement  of  the  rectory  on  Pearl  Street,  and  subsequently  sold 
to  the  Presbyterian  Society  in  Fredonia,  N.  Y. 

On  Easter  Monday,  April  21,  185 1,  the  treasurer  reported  that  he 
had  received  $1,985.36  for  pew  rent  in  Clinton  Hall  for  the  past  year, 
and  that  the  debts  of  the  parish  consisted  of  the  $3,500  mortgage  on  the 
rectory,  and  the  bond  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  for  $1,562  for  arrears 
of  salary  prior  to  April  1,  1S50.  The  same  vestry,  clerk,  treasurer 
and  building  committee  were  reelected  for  one  year. 

*  Elected  Junior  Warden  in  1889. 


66  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  May  17,  1S51,  a  proposition  was  sub- 
mitted by  different  persons  to  loan  to  the  parish  $2,500  to  purchase  a 
new  organ  for  the  church  edifice,  to  be  placed  therein  by  the  following 
October,  the  organ  to  belong  to  these  persons  until  paid  for  by  the 
parish.     This  offer  was  accepted. 

August  12,  1 85 1,  the  treasurer  reported  that  the  building  committee 
had  expended  $52,105.73  on  the  church  edifice,  and  had  received  from 
all  sources  $5 1,148.32,  leaving  a  balance  of  $957.41  due  to  the  treasurer. 

Rev.  Dr.  Shelton,  having  returned  from  England,  presided  at  the 
vestry  meeting,  held  at  the  rectory,  September  12,  1851. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  October  20,  185 1,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton 
presented  the  four  collection  plates,  elegantly  made  of  English  walnut, 
for  the  use  of  the  church.  The  same  were  accepted,  and  the  thanks  of  the 
vestry  made  to  him  for  the  very  handsome  and  appropriate  donation.* 

The  new  edifice  of  St.  Paul's  Church  was  consecrated  on  Wednes- 
day morning,  October  22,  185 1.  A  procession  was  formed  from  the 
rectory  on  Pearl  Street,  and  proceeded  to  the  main  entrance  of  the 
church,  where  it  was  met  by  the  vestry,  and  marched  in  procession  up 
the  main  aisle  to  the  chancel,  repeating  the  appropriate  and  prescribed 
Psalm.  There  were  present  Bishop  DeLancey  of  Western  New  York, 
Bishop  McCoskry  of  Michigan,  Bishop  Strachan  of  Toronto,  and 
Bishop  Field  of  Newfoundland,  eight  clergymen  from  Canada,  one 
from  Ohio,  one  from  Indiana,  one  from  Connecticut,  one  from  Penn- 
sylvania, two  from  New  York,  and  eighteen  from  Western  New  York, 
in  all  four  bishops  and  thirty-two  presbyters  and  deacons.  The 
instrument  of  donation  was  presented  by  George  B.  Webster,  the  senior 
warden,  and  read  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ingersoll,  of  Trinity  Church, 
Buffalo.  The  instrument  of  consecration  was  read  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Shelton,  as  follows: 

Whereas,  The  rector,  church  wardens  and  vestrymen  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  in 
the  City  of  Buffalo,  County  of  Erie,  State  of  New  York  and  Diocese  of  Western 
New  York,  have,  by  an  instrument  this  day  presented  to  me,  appropriated  and  given  a 


*  These  plates  were  used  until  destroyed,  with  the  church,  in  the  fire  of  May  10,  ii 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  67 

house  of  worship  and  service  of  Almighty  God,  according  to  the  ministry,  doctrine, 
liturgy,  rites  and  usages  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of 
America,  have  placed  the  same  under  my  spiritual  jurisdiction  and  that  of  my  succes- 
sors in  office,  and  have  requested  me  to  consecrate  it  by  the  name  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 
Now,  therefore,  be  it  known  that  I,  William  Ileathcote  DeLancey,  D.  D.,  Bishop  of 
the  Diocese  of  Western  New  York,  having  taken  the  said  house  of  worship  under  my 
spiritual  jurisdiction  and  that  of  my  successors  in  office,  did,  on  this  twenty-second  day 
of  October,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-one,  under 
the  protection  of  Almighty  God,  and  in  the  presence  of  divers  of  the  clergy  and  of  a 
public  congregation  there  assembled,  consecrate  the  same  to  the  worship  and  service  of 
Almighty  God,  the  Father,  the  Son  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  by  the  name  of  St.  Paul's 
Church.  And  by  these  presents  declare  the  said  St.  Paul's  Church  to  be  consecrated 
accordingly  and  hereby  separated  henceforth  from  all  unhallowed,  worldly  and  com- 
mon uses,  and  set  apart  and  dedicated  to  the  service  of  Almighty  God  for  reading  and 
preaching  His  holy  word,  for  celebrating  His  holy  sacraments,  for  offering  to  His 
Glorious  Majesty  the  sacrifices  of  prayer,  thanksgiving  and  praise,  for  blessing  the 
people  in  His  name,  and  for  the  performance  of  all  other  holy  offices  according  to  the 
terms  of  His  covenant  of  grace  and  mercy,  in  His  Son  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ,  and  according  to  the  ministry,  doctrines,  liturgy  and  usages  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America. 

In  testimony  whereof  I  have  hereunto  affixed  my  hand  and  seal, 
[seal.]  in  the  city  of  Buffalo,  the  day  and  year  above  written,  and  the 

thirteenth  year  of  my  consecration. 

WILLIAM  HEATHCOTE  DeLANCEY, 
Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Western  New  York. 

The  morning  service  was  then  performed,  the  sermon  was  preached 
by  Bishop  DeLancey,  who  also  administered  the  Holy  Communion, 
assisted  by  the  rector  and  others  of  the  clergy.  A  large  congregation, 
including  many  friends  from  Canada  and  other  parts,  deeply  interested 
in  the  progress  of  the  church,  and  warmly  attached  to  the  rector  of 
the  parish,  attended  these  services. 

A  correspondent  of  the  "  Buffalo  Christian  Advocate,"  Methodist,  in 
a  communication  to  that  paper,  remarked  "that  it  was  pleasant  to  see 
so  many  of  Christ's  Apostles  and  God's  ministering  servants  in  white 
robes."  The  correspondent  further  said  "  that  the  weather  was  very 
unfavorable,  still  there  was  a  large  attendance  of  attentive  and  devout 


68  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

listeners.  The  bishop's  sermon  was  a  masterly  production,  worthy  of 
the  man  and  the  occasion  ;  lucidly  setting  forth  the  characteristics  of 
God's  house,  being  made  up  of  prayer,  praise,  instruction,  vows,  grace 
received  in  answer  to  our  faithful  attendance  and  worship,  from  the  God 
of  Zion,  who  is  always  present,  and  dwelleth  in  the  temples  dedicated 
to  His  service."  The  correspondent  also  said  :  "  The  house  is  a  mag- 
nificent edifice,  superior  in  the  architectural  skill  manifested  in  the  plan 
and  construction,  beautifully  finished  and  tastefully  ornamented,  by  far 
the  finest  church  edifice  in  the  State  out  of  the  city  of  New  York."* 

The  following  description  of  the  new  church  edifice  was  published 
in  1850  in  the  "Gospel  Messenger,"  and  signed  "  C.  W.  H." 

"  It  is  from  the  designs  of  Mr.  Upjohn,  in  the  First- 
pointed  or  Early  English  style,  and  exhibits  in  its  different  parts  every 
variety  of  that  style.  The  material  is  a  brown  sandstone,  quarried 
near  Buffalo.  The  ground  plan  of  the  church  consists  of  a  nave  105 
feet  by  30,  aisles  87^  by  16,  chancel  26  by  24,  chapel  on  the  north, 
50  by  28,  vestry  12  by  14,  north-east  and  north-west  porches,  and  west 
tower.  ( It  will  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  chancel,  which  fronts  Main 
Street,  is  at  the  east  end.)  The  extreme  length  of  the  church,  exter- 
nally, including  the  tower,  nave,  and  chancel,  is  about  140  feet;  and 
the  extreme  breadth,  including  the  nave,  aisles  and  chapel,  about  95 
feet.  The  ground  plan  of  the  church,  as  much  as  any  feature  of  it, 
displays  tne  consummate  genius  of  the  architect  —  for  there  were  no 
ordinary  difficulties  to  overcome.  A  church  of  very  large  size  was 
required  ;  it  must  occupy  nearly  the  whole  of  a  triangular  lot  ;  and 
orientation  was  to  be  secured,  if  possible.  All  these  objects  have  been 
accomplished  in  the  plan  of  the  church,  and  without  any  sacrifice  of 
beauty  or  convenience. 

"The  principal  entrance  is  at  the  west  end  of  the  nave,  by  sliding 
doors,  richly  carved  with  the  intersecting  Norman  arches,  which  mark 

*  The  main  part  only  of  the  church  was  finished  at  this  time  ;  the  stone  steps, 
porches  and  towers  were  added  later.  The  spire  of  the  main  tower  was  not  finished 
until  1870,  and  that  of  the  smaller  tower  until  1871. 


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History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  69 

the  origin  of  pointed  architecture.  From  this  point  is  obtained  the 
finest  view  of  the  interior — looking  down  the  long  vista  of  the  nave 
and  chancel  to  the  east  window  at  the  opposite  extremity,  a  distance 
of  130  feet.  The  piers  which  divide  the  nave  into  six  bays,  are  of 
wood,  2  feet  6  inches  in  diameter,  and  of  a  very  fine  design, —  a 
square  shaft  surrounded  by  eight  small  columns,  alternated  with 
deep  recess  moldings.  The  capitals,  in  their  deep  hollows  and  bold 
projections,  display  that  marked  contrast  of  light  and  shadow  so 
characteristic  of  early  English  architecture.  The  roof  is  of  a  later 
period  than  the  rest  of  the  church,  and  is  a  fine  specimen  of  the 
noble,  open-timber  roofs  of  the  fourteenth  century.  The  arches  of 
the  nave  roof  spring  from  hammer-beams  resting  upon  braces  which 
spring  from  the  vaulting  shafts  above  the  piers.  Above  the  vault- 
ing shafts  are  tie-beams  extending  across  to  the  wall  plate  of  the 
aisles,  and  similar  tie-beams  extend  between  the  piers,  thus  form- 
ing triforia,  open  underneath,  and  the  sides  filled  with  geometrical 
tracery.  The  tie-beams  again  are  separated  by  arches  springing 
from  the  capitals  of  the  piers.  The  arches  of  the  nave  roof  are  18 
feet  in  span,  and  60  feet  from  the  floor  to  their  apex.  The  spandrels 
of  all  the  arches  are  filled  with  rich  tracery,  in  which  the  trefoil  and 
cuspings,  characteristic  of  the  transition  to  middle-pointed  architec- 
ture, are  very  prominent.  The  piers  and  arches  are  painted  a  dark 
brown  color,  harmonizing  perfectly  with  the  exterior  of  the  church, 
but  not  in  imitation  of  stone.  The  roof  of  the  nave  is  a  very  rich 
ultramarine  blue. 

"  The  nave  projects  at  the  west  end  one  bay  beyond  the  aisles,  and 
the  north  aisle  one  bay  beyond  the  chapel.  At  the  west  end  of  each 
aisle  are  doors  similar  to  the  west  doors  of  the  nave,  but  smaller.* 
The  aisle  windows  are  all  lancets,  two  in  each  bay,  ten  feet  from  the 
floor,  and  18  feet  in  height,  and  connected  by  a  double  label  mould- 
ing. They  are  filled  with  stained  glass  of  a  rich  salmon  color,  in 
small  diamond  panes,  each  pane  bearing  a  fleur-de-lis. 

*  These  doors  were  walled  up  in  1864  ;  see  note  at  foot  of  page  100. 


/O  History  of  St.   Paul's  Church. 

"  The  seats  of  the  nave  and  aisles  are  all  open,  the  ends  about  3 
ftet  6  inches  high,  and  2^4  inches  in  thickness,  pointed  and  carved 
with  rich  tracery.  In  the  head  is  a  cinque-foil,  within  which  is  the 
number  of  the  seat  in  gold  on  a  blue  ground.  The  nave  and  aisles 
contain  about  730  sittings  ;  the  chapel  218  on  the  floor  and  192  in  the 
gallery,  making  in  all  about  1,140.  The  central  alley  of  the  nave  is 
about  six  feet  broad. 

"  The  chapel  occupies  the  second,  third  and  fourth  bays  of  the  north 
aisle,  opening  into  it  by  three  arches.  It  contains  three  ranges  of  seats 
like  those  of  the  nave,  facing  east.  Its  principal  entrance  is  from  a 
lofty  porch  on  the  east,  beyond  which  is  a  passage  to  the  vestry,  and 
also  to  the  small  tower  containing  the  circular  staircase  to  the  gallery. 
This  gallery  occupies  all  the  upper  part  of  the  chapel,  and  is  reached 
by  a  passage  in  the  second  story  of  the  porch,  which  opens  into  the 
north  aisle  by  two  arches  separated  by  a  small  square  piece  of  stone.* 

"  The  organ  (a  powerful  and  fine-toned  instrument  from  the  manu- 
factory of  House  &  Co.,  Buffalo,  containing  30  stops)  is  placed  over 
the  vestry,  at  the  east  end  of  the  north  aisle,  and  in  front  of  it  is  a 
space  raised  one  step  and  enclosed,  for  the  singers.  Near  this  is  the 
font,  of  white  marble,  and  octagonal  in  shape,  the  alternate  panels  of 
the  basin  sculptured  with  the  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  Dove,  etc.  The 
pulpit  is  placed  outside  the  chancel  arch  on  the  south,  and  is  entered 
by  steps  from  the  chancel.  It  is  of  black  walnut,  octagonal,  sup- 
ported by  a  central  shaft  with  open,  spandreled  arches. 

"  The  chancel  opens  into  the  nave  by  a  fine  archway  of  cut  stone, 
40  feet  in  height,  20  feet  in  span,  and  2  feet  6  inches  in  thickness. 
The  sides  of  the  arch  are  enriched  with  small  clustered  shafts,  the 
space  between  them  deeply  recessed.     The  chancel  is  divided  by  the 

*  This  gallery  over  the  chapel  was  afterwards,  in  1857,  removed.  In  the  illustra- 
tion given  later  in  this  volume,  of  the  interior  of  the  ruins  of  the  east  end  of  the  church, 
after  the  fire  of  1888,  the  line  of  the  flooring  of  this  gallery  is  plainly  visible,  as  is  also 
the  old  doorway  leading  from  the  gallery  to  the  tower  staircase,  and  which  was  closed 
up  and  covered  with  plaster  when  the  gallery  was  removed, —  the  intense  heat  of  the 
fire  having  peeled  off  the  fresco  and  exposed  the  old  wall. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  71 

altar-rail  into  choir,  or  outer  chancel,  and  sacrarium.  The  floor  of  the 
choir  is  elevated  three  steps  above  the  nave,  and  the  sacrarium  one 
step  above  the  choir.  The  lectern  is  on  the  second  step  of  the  choir, 
on  the  north  side,  directly  under  the  chancel  arch,  and  is  of  a  very 
beautiful  design  —  a  square  central  shaft,  within  four  small  columns, 
with  foliated  capitals,  upon  which  rest  the  brackets  supporting  the 
book-board. 

"  I  may  remark  here  that  all  the  furniture  of  the  church  is  of  black 
walnut,  unpainted.  On  the  north  side  of  the  choir  are  two  stalls,  and 
on  the  south  three,  all  alike  and  plain,  with  high  ends  and  shoulders. 
In  front  of  the  stalls  are  solid  desks  with  kneelers,  the  fronts  paneled 
with  pointed  arches,  and  the  book-boards  resting  on  brackets.  The 
altar-rail  is  of  black  walnut,  supported  by  eight  small  spiral  shafts  of 
metal  gilt,  the  heads  branching  out  into  foliage.  The  sedilia  on  the 
south  side  of  the  sacrarium  are  three  in  number,  the  ends  very  high 
and  terminating  in  richly  carved  fleur-de-lis.  The  altar  stands  on  a 
foot-pace,  7  feet  by  14,  under  the  east  window,  and  some  two  feet 
from  the  wall.  The  table  is  a  single  slab  of  black  walnut  8  feet  by  4, 
and  3  inches  thick,  supported  by  slender  shafts  with  open  arches, 
pointed  and  cusped.  It  is  a  very  fine  piece  of  work.  On  the  south 
side  of  the  chancel  are  two  lancet  windows,  similar  to  those  of  the 
aisles,  but  filled  with  glass  of  deeper  and  richer  hues.  The  east 
window  is  a  very  fine  triplet,  the  central  light  about  23  feet  in  height, 
and  the  side  lights  18  feet.  The  central  light  is  filled  with  circles  and 
quatre-foils  alternately,  the  latter  each  bearing  a  crimson  cross,  on 
the  uppermost  of  which  is  a  dove  descending  —  on  the  next  below,  a 
lamb.  The  side  lights  are  filled  with  other  sacred  emblems,  —  the 
crown,  the  chalice,  etc.  The  whole  effect  of  the  stained  glass  is  very 
fine  ;  there  is  none  of  that  cold,  gloomy  air  which  so  many  of  our  new 
churches  have,  and  which  the  coarse,  gray  glass  in  common  use 
almost  always  produces. 

"  Of  the  general  effect  of  the  exterior  of  the  church  we  cannot 
speak  with  much  certainty,  as  its  finest  feature,  the  great  tower,  is  not 


7 2  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

yet  seen On  the  north  of  the  chancel  is  a  small  circular 

tower,  whose  upper  story  contains  the  bell  of  the  old  church.  This 
tower  is  connected  with  the  chapel  by  a  large  closed  porch.  At  the 
west  end  of  the  north  porch  is  a  smaller  porch. 

"One  marked  feature  of  the  exterior  of  the  church  is  the  simple 
and  substantial  character  of  the  stone  work.  The  walls  are  2  feet  6 
inches  in  thickness,  and  the  buttresses  plain  and  heavy  —  those  on  the 
corners  capped  with  lofty  pinnacles. 

"The  roof  is  slated  —  the  slates  laid  diamond-wise  —  and  has  no 
parapet.  Under  the  eaves  of  the  nave  runs  a  plain  corbel-table,  and 
the  chancel  has  one  of  much  richer  design.  The  gable  of  the  chancel 
is  to  be  crowned  by  a  large  floriated  cross,  and  each  gable  of  the  nave 
by  a  smaller  one. 

"  The  finest  view  of  the  exterior  is  from  the  northeast,  at  the  corner 
of  Main  and  North  Division  streets.  From  this  point  are  seen,  finely 
grouped,  the  gables  of  the  chapel,  nave  and  chancel,  with  the  lofty 
north-east  porch,  and  the  quaint  little  round  tower  at  its  corner."  .... 

The  sale  of  the  pews  in  the  new  church  edifice  was  by  public 
auction,  in  the  church,  on  Thursday  morning,  October  23,  185 1,  con- 
ditioned that  they  should  be  subject  to  such  annual  tax  on  their 
valuation  as  the  vestry  should  determine  to  be  proper  for  the  mainte- 
nance of  public  worship  in  said  edifice,  and  to  defray  the  contingent 
and  other  expenses  of  the  parish. 

The  vestry  met  at  the  rectory  on  Saturday  evening,  October  25, 
1 85 1,  and  the  building  committee,  with  Mr.  Upjohn  the  architect,  met 
with  them.  There  had  been  a  misunderstanding  with  the  architect 
relative  to  the  stained-glass  windows,  both  as  to  price  and  workman- 
ship. The  vestry  were  also  dissatisfied  with  the  great  increase  of  the 
cost  of  the  edifice  over  and  above  the  $52,372  it  was  estimated  to 
cost  before  the  commencement  of  the  work.  Mr.  Upjohn  had  cer- 
tainly not  guaranteed  that  it  would  not  cost  more  than  that  sum,  and 
had  made  his  estimates  on  the  different  estimates  furnished  to  him  in 
Buffalo  for  the  different  portions  of  the  edifice.      He  had  contracted 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  73 

that  the  stained-glass  windows  should  be  placed  in  the  church  for 
$1,800,  and  he  agreed  in  writing  at  this  meeting  that  the  said  windows 
should  be  made  satisfactory  to  the  vestry.  He  also  agreed  in  writing 
that  as  the  entire  cost  of  the  edifice  would  now  be  $85,000,  yet  his  five 
percent,  commissions  on  the  said  cost  should  not  exceed  five  per  cent, 
on  the  $52,372  as  originally  estimated,  all  of  which  was  satisfactory  and 
agreed  to  by  the  vestry. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry  on  Monday  evening,  October  27,  1851, 
the  treasurer  reported  that  the  church  edifice  had  cost,  up  to  that  time, 
$54,581.80,  and  that  he  had  received  from  all  sources  $52,969.95,  leav- 
ing a  balance  of  $1,611.85  due  to  the  treasurer. 

The  following  extracts  are  from  the  text  of  the  first  sermon  preached 
by  Dr.  Shelton  in  the  new  church  edifice,  November  2,  185 1,  directly 
after  his  return  from  Europe.  It  was  printed  at  the  time  by  request 
of  a  committee  of  the  congregation,  and  is  a  sermon  of  remarkable 
power  and  beauty  ;  it  is  also  interesting  as  giving  a  resume  of  the 
building  of  the  church,  and  as  '"marking  an  important  era  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  church  and  parish."  The  text  is  from  I.  Kings,  Chapter 
IX.  3,  "I  have  heard  thy  prayer,  and  thy  supplication  that  thou  hast 
made  before  me  :  I  have  hallowed  this  house  which  thou  hast  built,  to 
put  my  name  there  forever  :  and  mine  eyes  and  mine  heart  shall  be 
there  perpetually." 

"  After  so  long  a  separation,  and  so  many  scenes  of  varied  interest 
which  have  transpired  since  upon  this  plot  of  ground,  we  parted  with 
the  house  of  worship  which  had  been  hallowed  in  the  eyes  of  God,  as 
in  our  own  hearts,  we  have  cause  for  gratitude  that  we  are  permitted 
(in  the  Providence  of  the  Almighty  Being  who  presides  over  the  affairs 
of  mortals)  to  re-assemble  under  circumstances  so  auspicious.  We 
conceived,  some  three  years  since,  the  design  of  parting  with  an  old 
and  time-honored  edifice,  which  had  answered  its  object,  and,  for  us, 
fulfilled  its  mission;  and  of  placing  on  the  same  unrivaled  spot  a  more 
noble  and  fitting  edifice,  one  which  should  give  dignity  and  all  that 
architectural  beauty  could  confer  upon  a  house  devoted  to  the  wor- 


74  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

ship  and  service  of  Almighty  God.  This  design  has  been  accomplished. 
We  have  seen  it  proceed  from  step  to  step,  from  day  to  day,  from  month 
to  month,  and  from  year  to  year;  after  the  incipient  thought,  the  notes 
of  preparation  ;  then  the  commencement,  the  demolition  of  nature's  or- 
naments and  the  breaking  away  of  ancient  bounds  ;  then  the  removal 
of  the  edifice  in  which  so  many  associations  centered,  in  which  for  so 
many  years  our  prayers  and  rites  of  religion  have  been  offered  and  per- 
formed ;  then  the  laying,  deep  and  solid,  far  beneath  the  surface,  the 
foundation  stones,  upon  which  have  been  reared  so  successfully,  so 
prosperously  —  and  without  accident  —  these  lofty  and  imposing  walls  ; 
from  which  has  sprung  this  azure  arch,  supported  by  these  massive 
columns,  illuminated  by  these  beautiful  windows.  During  all  this  long 
period,  and  through  all  its  exposures  (by  God's  blessing)  an  accident 
fatal  to  life  or  limb  has  not  occurred  ;  more  than  this,  scarcely  an  im- 
pediment to  a  steady  right  onward  movement  has  been  presented. 
Neither  discord  nor  disagreement,  neither  envy  nor  jealousy,  none  of 
the  bad  passions  of  the  heart,  have  been  allowed  to  have  an  entrance  in 
any  breast ;  but  unity  of  purpose,  unity  of  design,  harmony  and  peace 
have  always  been  present  ;  if  a  momentary  misunderstanding  resulting 
from  misapprehension  has  arisen,  it  has  fled  away  before  sounder  and 
holier  thoughts,  and  a  just  appreciation  of  the  right  intent  and  good 

will  of  all  parties Judging  of  acts  by  their  consequences 

and  results  it  is  safe  to  say  of  the  generality  of  those  who  have  given 
their  treasure,  their  time,  their  attention,  their  prayers,  to  the  erection 
of  this  glorious  edifice,  it  is  their  best  act  in  life  ;  for  there  has  been 
reared  under  your  auspices,  one  of  the  most  costly,  most  fit,  and  most 
beautiful  Temples  of  God  which  can  be  seen  anywhere  in  the  wide 
extent  of  this  fair  land.  Rarely  has  it  been  surpassed.  It  does  not 
vie  in  glorious  majesty  with  those  lofty  and  grand  Cathedrals  which  are 
the  ornament  and  pride  of  the  Church  of  Britain  ;  it  has  not  the  cost 
nor  the  grandeur  of  the  Temple  of  Solomon;  with  these  it  does  not  vie  ; 
but  it  does  vie  with  the  churches  of  any  land,  however  elegant  and 
imposing  they  may  be  ;  and  when  I  reflect  that  from  the  generous  and 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  75 

open-handed  liberality,  the  unselfish,  the  free-hearted  and  expansive 
churchman-like  spirit  of  this  comparatively  small  parish,  all  this  cost 
has  been  derived,  I  cannot  refrain  from  saying  that  it  is  a  more  noble 
monument,  evincing  those  qualities,  than  can  be  found  elsewhere  in  the 
country  in  which  we  dwell.  All  debt  has  been  eschewed  ;  you  have 
derived  aid  from  but  three  persons  who  are  not  of  your  number 
—  every  obligation  has  been  promptly  and  honestly  met,  by  its  pay- 
ment '  in  the  current  money  of  the  merchant.'  No  blot,  no  stain, 
rests  upon  your  honor  or  your  honesty  ;  the  laborer  has  been  deemed 

worthy  of  his  hire The   distinguished   architect  should 

not  be  allowed  to  pass  unnoticed  and  unhonored.  It  is  no  common 
intellect  that  has  conceived  and  perfected  these  beautiful  proportions  ! 
A  refined,  cultivated  and  religious  taste  has  been  here,  giving  to  every 
object,  to  every  part,  to  every  line  the  impress  of  cultivated  archi- 
tectural skill.  The  cost  has  far  exceeded,  nearly  doubled,  his  design 
and  our  intent.  It  has  been  his  infirmity,  and  we  may  pardon  that 
infirmity  in  consideration  of  the  surpassing  beauty  that  he  has  achieved. 
.  .  .  .  The  enterprise  has  been  blessed  with  efficient,  competent 
and  able  artificers,  and  some  of  our  number  have  performed  what  has 
not  been  paid  for  by  other  coin  than  that  which  is  best  —  the  reward  of 
an  approving  conscience  —  and  the  luxurious  feeling  which  the  sordid 
and  selfish  cannot  know,  which  springs  up  like  a  bubbling  fountain 
in  the  hearts  of  those  who  love  to  do  for  others  good,  with  no 
desire  for  other  fee  or  reward.  It  was  no  trifling  enterprise  upon 
which  we  embarked,  when  the  decision  was  made  to  do  what  has 
been  effected.  It  was  hazardous  on  account  of  the  multiplicity  of 
views  which  possess  the  minds  of  men.  It  always  makes  us  tremu- 
lous when  we  unmoor  a  ship  from  her  fastenings,  and  commit  her  to  the 

keeping  of  the  winds  and  waves Peacefully,   trustfully, 

confidingly,  the  beginning  was  entered  upon  —  in  the  same  spirit  it  has 
been  carried  forward,  and,  thus  far,  completed  ;  and  we  give  thanks  to 
God  that  He  has  in  this,  as  in  all  other  things,  prospered  and  blessed 
us.     There  remains  another  and  distinct  enterprise  ;  that  which  we 


7 6  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

have  completed  affords  all  the  desired  or  desirable  room  in  which  we 
may  worship  and  serve  God.  That  which  remains  is  the  more  orna- 
mental work,  which  must  be  completed,  else  we  shall  have  put  our  hand 

to  the  plow  and  looked  back I  doubt  not,  however,  the 

day  will  soon  be  present  when  all  will  be  completed I 

would  not  over-value  costly  edifices  in  which  to  worship  God  ;  but  I 
would  express  the  opinion  that  in  the  presence  of  such  buildings  there 
is  a  solemnity  and  reverence  which  increases  devotion  and  elevates  the 
heart  ;  which  commands  the  respect  of  the  vile  ;  which  humbles  the 
proud  ;  which  dignifies  religion,  and  inspires  reverence  in  all.  Who 
shall  estimate  the  silent  influences  of  this  pile,  for  ages  to  come  ?  — for 
it  is  built  for  the  future  as  well  as  the  present.  Who  shall  count  the 
results  upon  the  unnumbered,  both  of  this  age  and  of  that  which  shall 
be  when  we  are  mouldering  in  yonder  burying-places,  and  our  spirits 
are  with  those  departed  ?  Say  not  that  stone  and  mortar  and  fair 
proportions  can  have  no  influence  in  inspiring  religious  dread  or  holy 
devotion  !  If  Jehovah  condescended  to  descend  to  the  details  of  the 
most  costly  and  glorious  of  temples  made  with  hands,  it  was  that 
love  and  reverence  might  be  awakened  ;  that  religion  might  be  pro- 
moted ;  that  worship  might  be  more  solemn  and  subdued 

We  turn  from  the  past,  and  look  onward  to  the  future.  We  can  but 
ask  :  For  what  end  have  we  reared  an  edifice  at  so  much  cost  of  treas- 
ure and  of  care,  and  labor  and  anxiety  ?  Is  it  not  for  the  honor  of 
God  among  men  ?  Is  it  not  for  the  advantage  of  the  religion  in  which 
we  live  —  in  which  we  are  to  die  —  and  through  which  we  are  to  be 
saved  ?  Surely  it  is.  It  is  for  our  convenience  in  worshiping  the  great 
and  eternal  God,  and  in  proclaiming  His  all  glorious  truth.  It  is 
that  here,  in  His  presence,  we  may  perform  all  those  rites  and  observ- 
ances of  religion  which  He  requires  at  our  hands.  We  look  forward  to 
the  time  when,  as  year  after  year  passes  away,  we  shall  continue  to 
grow  in  grace  and  increase  in  strength,  until  that  summons  comes 
which  shall  bid  us  lay  aside  our  mortality  and  exchange  time  for 
eternity.     We  look  that  this  shall  be  the  place  in  which  the  now  unborn 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  77 

of  generations  shall  be  reborn,  regenerated  and  grafted  into  the  body 
of  Christ's  Church  ;  that  here  they  shall,  in  later  years,  ratify  and 
confirm  their  baptismal  engagements,  receive  the  Apostle's  benediction, 
and  the  renewal  of  that  grace  which  shall  enable  them  to  fight  man- 
fully against  the  World,  the  Flesh  and  the  Devil.  We  look  that  it  shall 
be  the  place  in  which  the  solemnities  of  the  marriage  vow  shall  be 
most  appropriately  performed,  and  which  shall  give  additional  sanctity 
to  that  holy  ordinance.  We  look  that  it  shall  be  the  place  in  which 
we,  and  those  who  come  after  us  shall  break  the  bread  of  life,  and 
receive,  through  that  act  of  faith,  spiritual  and  heavenly  food.  .  .  . 
We  look  that  here  shall  be  the  place  in  which  the  pure  Gospel  of  the 
Son  of  God  shall  be  taught  ;  where  the  Word  of  God  shall  be  read, 
and  its  awful  mysteries  so  far  explained  as  the  mind  of  man  can 
fathom  them  ;  where  the  sacraments  shall  be  duly  and  fitly  explained  ; 
where  the  doctrines  of  the  Gospel  shall  be  so  made  manifest  that  an 

attentive  ear  may  hear  and  understand We  look  that  here 

the  great  truths  of  the  Church  shall  ever  be  fearlessly  and  truthfully 
proclaimed  ;  that  here  the  youthful  mind,  in  its  early  reflections,  shall 
imbibe  the  eternal  truths  which  shall  make  it  wise  unto  salvation.  We 
look,  therefore,  that  it  shall  be,  as  it  is,  none  other  than  the  portal  and 
the  gateway  to  Heaven  —  connecting  two  worlds  !  — The  House  which 
God  has  hallowed,  and  in  which  He  has  put  His  name  forever,  and 
where  His  eyes  and  His  Heart  shall  be  perpetually."     .     .     . 

The  new  church  edifice  was  dressed  with  evergreens  at  Christmas, 
185  1,  for  the  first  time,  and  on  all  subsequent  Christmas  days. 

December  30,  185 1,  the  committee  reported  to  the  vestry  that  the 
unpaid  debts  on  the  church  edifice,  over  and  above  the  assets  or  taxes, 
amounted  to  $4,348.26. 

The  vestry  decided  that  the  new  organ  put  in  the  church  by  the 
subscribers  to  the  organ  fund,  and  which  cost  $2,500,  was  satisfactory, 
and  it  was  accepted.  It  was  reported  to  the  vestry  that  the  old  organ 
in  the  former  edifice  had  been  sold  for  $600  to  the  Presbyterian 
Society  in  Fredonia,  N.  Y. 


7<S  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 


1852. 

At  the  annual  election  on  Easter  Monday,  April  12,  1852,  being  the 
first  election  in  the  new  church  edifice,  George  B.  Webster  and  R.  H. 
Heywood  were  elected  wardens,  and  Lester  Brace,  Elijah  Ford,  John 
L.  Kimberly,  Samuel  I).  Flagg,  Edward  S.  Warren,  Amos  I.  Mathews, 
Benjamin  Bradley  and  George  E.  Hayes,  vestrymen.  At  a  subsequent 
meeting  of  the  vestry  Charles  W.  Evans  was  reappointed  clerk  and  Jacob 
A.  Barker  treasurer,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  solicit  subscrip- 
tions to  pay  $4,500  due  on  the  church  edifice,  and  $2,500  for  the  new 
organ,  the  subscription  not  to  be  binding  unless  the  amount  of  $7,000 
was  subscribed.  The  vestry  directed  an  assessment  of  eight  per  cent, 
on  the  valuation  of  the  sold  pews  to  pay  the  parish  expenses  from 
Easter,  1852,  to  Easter,  1053. 

1853. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  January  26,  1853,  the  committee  reported 
that  $7,000  had  been  subscribed  by  forty-five  members  of  the  congre- 
gation to  pay  the  $4,500  due  on  the  church  edifice,  and  $2,500  to  pay 
for  the  new  organ. 

At  the  annual  election,  March  28,  1853,  the  same  vestry  were 
reelected,  and  at  a  subseqent  meeting,  April  1,  1853,  Charles  W.  Evans 
was  reappointed  clerk,  and  the  salary  of  the  rector  was  raised  from  $1,200 
to  $1,700  per  annum,  and  the  rate  of  tax  on  the  unsold  pews  was  fixed 
at  eight  per  cent.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  raise  subscriptions 
for  the  purpose  of  completing  the  church  edifice. 

On  May  7,  1853,  the  vestry  directed  that  water  and  gas  be  intro- 
duced into  the  rectory,  at  an  expense  of  $331. 

After  several  temporary  appointments  William  Channon  was 
appointed  sexton  on  June  30,  1853.     At  the  same  meeting  Edward  S. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  79 

Warren,  from  the  music  committee,  reported  that  $1,000  would  be 
required  to  defray  the  music  expenses  for  the  year  commencing  at 
Easter,  1853.  At  the  same  meeting  the  vestry  ordered  a  tax  of  three 
and  a  half  per  cent,  on  the  unsold  pews  to  pay  for  paving  Erie  Street, 
amounting  to  $737.61. 

1854- 

January  4,  1854,  the  vestry  appointed  a  committee  to  finish  off  the 
basement  of  the  church  edifice,  and  to  construct  a  receiving  vault  for 
the  dead  in  a  part  of  the  said  basement. 

At  the  annual  election  on  Easter  Monday,  April  17,  1854,  Russell 
H.  Heywood  and  Lester  Brace  were  elected  wardens,  and  Elijah  Ford, 
Henry  Hagar,  Albert  H.  Tracy,  John  S.  Ganson,  Israel  T.  Hatch, 
.George  E.  Hayes,  Benjamin  Bradley  and  Amos  I.  Mathews,  vestry- 
men. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  April  20,  1854,  Elijah  Ford  acted  as 
clerk  pro  tern,  and  Charles  W.  Evans  was  reappointed  clerk,  and  was 
also  appointed  the  treasurer  of  the  parish. 

Albert  H.  Tracy  having  declined  to  act  as  vestryman,  a  meeting 
of  the  congregation  was  called,  to  meet  at  the  church  on  May  22,  1854, 
to  elect  a  vestryman  in  his  place,  and  at  the  said  meeting  Charles  W. 
Evans  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry  on  May  24,  1854,  Charles  W.  Evans 
took  his  seat  as  vestryman,  and  signified  his  acceptance  of  the  offices  as 
clerk  of  the  vestry  and  treasurer  of  the  parish,  to  which  he  had  been 
appointed  on  April  20,  1854.  This  was  the  first  instance  in  this  parish, 
and  perhaps  in  any  parish,  where  the  same  person  held  these  three 
important  offices  at  the  same  time. 

It  will  be  seen  that  George  B.  Webster  was  not  elected  warden  this 
year.  This  was  in  consequence  of  his  removal  from  his  residence  on 
Swan  Street,  where  he  had  resided  for  more  than  twenty  years,  to  his 
new  residence  on  the  corner  of    Delaware  Avenue  and  Utica  Street. 


80  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

This  last  residence  was  so  very  distant  from  the  rectory  on  Pearl 
Street  as  to  almost  entirely  prevent  him  from  attending  the  meetings 
of  the  vestry.  He  had  been  the  warden  of  the  parish  from  Easter 
Monday,  1823,  to  Easter  Monday,  1854  —  a  period  of  thirty-one  years. 
As  junior  warden,  1823  to  1826,  and  as  senior  warden,  1827  to  1854. 
He  had  also  acted  as  treasurer  of  the  parish  and  as  a  delegate  to 
represent  it  in  the  Diocesan  Convention.  He  served  the  parish  with 
marked  ability,  both  as  warden  and  treasurer  and  as  its  representative 
in  the  Diocesan  Convention,  and  also  represented  the  Diocese  of 
Western  New  York  in  the  General  Convention.  When  first  elected 
warden  he  was  only  twenty-five  years  old. 

In  May,  1854,  forty-nine  members  of  the  congregation  subscribed 
$19,490  to  complete  the  church  edifice,  and  the  vestry  determined  to 
renew  their  efforts  towards  the  completion  thereof. 

August  11,  1854,  the  committee  appointed  in  January  to  construct 
a  receiving  vault  for  the  dead,  reported  that  it  had  been  done,  and  the 
vault  had  been  used  on  several  occasions.  The  cost  was  $335.58, 
mostly  paid  by  private  subscription. 

1855- 

The  same  committee  appointed  at  the  same  time  to  finish  off  the 
basement  of  the  church  for  a  Sunday-school  room,  reported  to  the 
vestry,  April  5,  1855,  that  the  work  had  been  done,  and  that  it  had 
cost  $1,243.49,  including  benches,  chairs,  book-cases,  gas  pipe  and 
fixtures,  a  large  stove,  and  including  the  stone  steps  and  stone  work 
leading  from  Pearl  Street  to  the  basement,  of  which  $700  was  paid 
from  the  proceeds  of  the  young  ladies'  fair,  held  at  Townsend  Hall  in 
February,  1854,  and  $643.59  from  the  building  fund.  At  the  same 
meeting  of  the  vestry  Charles  W.  Evans,  as  treasurer,  in  a  written 
communication  stated  that  he  had  made  a  full  examination  of  the 
accounts   of  the  building  committee  from   1849  to  1S54,  and  also  all 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  81 

other  accounts  relative  to  the  erection  of  the  church  edifice,  and  had  so 
combined  and  arranged  the  accounts  that  they  showed  a  full  statement 
of  the  cost  of  the  edifice  up  to  the  time  the  building  committee 
commenced  the  tower,  and  also  showed  from  what  sources  the  money 
so  expended  was  obtained,  and  such  other  information  as  would  be 
useful  for  future  reference.  The  vestry  directed  the  statement  to 
be  copied  in  full  in  the  vestry  book.  All  the  statements  occupy 
eighteen  pages  in  the  said  book. 

According  to  these  statements  the  church  edifice,  up  to  this  time, 
had  cost  $68,300.41,  exclusive  of  the  tower,  including  the  furnaces, 
stoves,  carpets,  chancel  furniture  and  fixtures,  finishing  off  of  the  base- 
ment for  the  Sunday  School  and  the  receiving  vault,  interest  on  the  loan 
certificates,  commissions  to  the  architect,  gas  pipes  and  fixtures,  and 
including  $2,500  for  the  new  organ.  The  treasurer  made  his  annual 
report  to  the  vestry,  on  April  9,  1855,  of  the  receipts  and  disbursements 
for  the  parish  account.  The  receipts  were  $4,080.28  and  the  disburse- 
ments $4,039.53.  The  tax  for  pew  rents  was  eight  per  cent,  on  the 
assessed  valuation.  The  valuation  of  the  pews  sold  being  $42,625,  of 
which  $41,800  is  available  for  revenue  on  taxation  for  pew  rents. 

April  5,  1S55,  John  L.  Kimberly  and  Jacob  A.  Barker,  composing 
the  new  building  committee  for  building  the  porches,  stone  steps  and 
the  main  tower,  reported  to  the  vestry  that  they  had  received  in  sub- 
scriptions $9,781.19,  and  had  disbursed  $9,501.86. 

At  the  annual  election  on  Easter  Monday,  April  9,  1855,  Russell 
H.  Heywood  and  Lester  Brace  were  elected  wardens,  and  Elijah  Ford, 
Charles  W.  Evans,  John  Pease,  John  S.  Ganson,  Samuel  G.  Cornell, 
Henry  K.  Viele,  George  E.  Hayes  and  John  T.  Lacy,  vestrymen.  At 
a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  vestry  Charles  W.  Evans  was  reappointed 
clerk  of  the  vestry  and  treasurer  of  the  parish. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry  on  October  23,  1855,  the  treasurer 
reported  that  he  had  sold  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  the  five  shares  of 
stock  of  the  Wells  &  Fargo  California  Express  Company,  which  had 
been  received  from  Amasa  Mason  on  account  of  his  subscription  to  the 


82  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

church  tower,  for  $400,  being  $80  per  share,  which  was  more  than  any 
other  person  had  offered  for  it,  and  that  he  had  paid  the  money  over  to 
the  building  committee.*  At  this  meeting  the  rector  reported  that 
he  had  obtained  additional  subscriptions  from  fourteen  members  of 
the  congregation  amounting  to  $2,350,  to  complete  the  church  tower. 

At  the  same  meeting  the  rector  mentioned  to  the  vestry  that  some 
time  before  he  had  received  a  small  contribution  for  a  hospital  fund 
from  an  individual,  who  did  not  desire  to  be  mentioned  by  name,  and 
that  recently  he  had  received  from  the  same  person  another  small  sum 
for  the  same  object,  and  that  the  two  contributions  with  interest 
thereon  now  amounted  to  $44,  and  that  he  had  deposited  it  in  the  Erie 
County  Savings  Bank.  It  is  well  worthy  of  record  that  this  sum  was 
the  origin,  or  rather  the  conception,  of  the  Church  Charity  Foundation 
in  Buffalo,  although  the  society  itself  was  not  organized  until  some 
time  afterwards. 

The  contribution  was  from  the  wife  of  Henry  E.  Howard  ;  Mr. 
Howard  was  connected  with  the  Marine  Bank  in  Buffalo. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  December  4,  1855,  the  building  com- 
mittee reported  that  they  had  disbursed  $11,056.17  since  April  5th, 
and  that  there  was  sufficient  amount  of  stone  on  hand  to  complete 
the  whole  work,  and  recommended  that  the  materials  be  prepared  in 
the  winter  to  recommence  work  in  the  spring.  The  vestry  agreed  to 
the  recommendation.  At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry  on  March  13, 
1855,  the  plan  was  mentioned  of  removing  the  organ  from  its  position 
near  the  chancel  to  a  gallery  to  be  erected  in  the  westerly  end  of  the 
church. 

*  This  purchase  of  stock,  made  by  Dr.  Shelton  largely  to  oblige  the  vestry  and 
his  friend,  Mr.  Mason,  who  had  become  financially  embarrassed  and  felt  unable  to 
pay  his  subscription  to  the  building  fund  in  cash,  was  the  nucleus  of  the  considerable 
fortune  which  he  left  at  the  time  of  his  death.  His  ownership  of  this  stock  brought 
him  into  contact  with  the  late  William  G.  Fargo,  through  whose  friendly  advice  Dr. 
Shelton  made  some  small  additional  investments  in  the  stocks  of  the  Wells-Fargo  and 
American  Express  Companies.  In  after  years  these  stocks  increased  very  greatly  in 
value,  and  formed  the  bulk  of  his  personal  property  at  his  death,  in  1883. 


History  of  St.  Paul 's  Church.  83 

1856. 

March  24,  1856,  the  treasurer  reported  the  receipts  for  parish 
expenses  for  the  year  past  to  be  $5,232.60,  including  the  ten  per  cent, 
pew  tax  on  the  assessed  valuation,  and  the  disbursements  were 
$5,198.92,  the  rector's  salary  being  $1,700  per  annum. 

At  the  annual  election  on  Easter  Monday,  March  24,  1856,  Russell 
H.  Heywood  and  Lester  Brace  were  elected  wardens,  and  Elijah  Ford, 
Charles  W.  Evans,  John  Pease,  John  S.  Ganson,  Samuel  G.  Cornell, 
Henry  K.  Viele,  George  E.  Hayes,  DeWitt  C.  Weed,  vestrymen  ;  and  at 
a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  vestry  Charles  W.  Evans  was  re-appointed 
clerk  and  also  treasurer  of  the  parish,  and  John  L.  Kimberly  and 
Jacob  A.  Barker  were  continued  in  the  building  committee,  and  they 
were  requested  to  remove  the  partition  between  the  chapel  and  the 
main  edifice.  It  had  originally  been  arranged  to  shut  off  the  chapel 
in  order  to  have  services  in  it  separate  from  the  main  edifice. 

April  3,  1856,  the  committee  on  music  was  requested  to  report  the 
probable  expense  of  removing  the  organ  to  a  gallery  in  the  west  end 
of  the  church,  and  to  construct  pews  in  the  space  then  occupied  by  the 
choir,  and  the  ways  and  means  of  paying  the  cost  of  the  proposed 
improvement. 

At  the  same  meeting  the  vestry  raised  the  salary  of  the  rector  to 
$2,000  per  annum,  with  the  use  of  the  rectory. 

April  24,  1856,  the  music  committee  reported  that  the  expense  of 
building  an  organ  loft  in  the  west  end  of  the  church  would  be  about 
$600,  and  that  three  large  and  two  small  pews  could  be  built  in  the 
present  choir  space  in  front  of  the  organ,  and  that  it  would  cost  $500 
to  remove  and  set  up  the  organ  in  the  proposed  loft,  and  that  an  imita- 
tion organ  or  stained  glass  window  could  be  placed  in  the  space  then 
occupied  by  the  organ. 

The  vestry  resolved  to  raise  by  subscription  $10,000  to  finish  the 
main  tower  and  spire  and  the  small  tower  and  turrets,  and  to  point 
the  stone  work. 


84  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

July  29,  1856,  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  reported  that  he  had  obtained  cash 
subscriptions  to  the  amount  of  $6,600  towards  finishing  the  church 
edifice. 

■857- 

January  16,  1857,  the  vestry  agreed  that  an  organ  gallery  be  con- 
structed in  the  west  end  of  the  church,  and  the  organ  be  removed 
thereto,  provided  it  could  be  done  without  any  expense  to  the  parish. 

March  6,  1857,  the  committee  was  directed  to  confer  with  Mr. 
Upjohn  relative  to  the  moving  of  the  organ. 

March  20,  1857,  Mr.  Hey  wood,  as  senior  warden,  reported  that  Mr. 
Upjohn,  the  architect,  was  opposed  to  the  removal  of  the  organ  as  be- 
ing injurious  to  the  effect  of  the  church.  He  also  reported  that  Mr. 
Upjohn  was  of  the  opinion  that  the  removal  of  the  gallery  over  the 
chapel  would  be  a  decided  improvement  to  the  appearance  of  the 
church. 

April  7,  1857,  the  vestry  passed  resolutions  relative  to  the  death  of 
George  B.  Webster,  who  had  been  the  senior  warden  of  the  parish  for 
thirty-one  years  prior  to  1854.     Mr.  Webster  died  April  4,  1854. 

"It  having  pleased  the  All-wise  Disposer  of  the  events  of  life  to 
remove  from  us  our  respected  and  highly-valued  friend,  George  B. 
Webster,  Esq.,  who  served  the  parish  as  its  Senior  Warden  from  the 
year  1823  to  1854,  a  period  of  thirty-one  years,  and  had  the  super- 
vision of  its  finances  for  nineteen  years,  previous  to  1841,  and  was  one 
of  the  Building  Committee  in  the  erection  of  the  present  church 
edifice,  rendering  on  all  occasions  disinterested  and  most  efficient 
services — We,  the  Rector,  Wardens  and  Vestrymen,  do  resolve,  that 
we  esteem  his  zeal  for  the  best  interests  of  religion  to  be  worthy  of  our 
emulation ;  that  his  attachment  to  the  Church,  her  institutions,  sacra- 
ments and  appointments,  and  his  steady  adhesion  to  principle  have 
secured  our  lasting  esteem  and  respect.  .  .  .  Resolved,  That  the 
above  resolutions  be  placed  upon  the  Records  of  the  Parish."     .     . 


PZLAN  or  SFPA  VLS  VMWRCtt 

WITH  OWNERS  AND  OCCUPANTS  OF  PEWS  AT  EASTER.  1857. 


Th« 

Clerk's  Ott'.ee. 

^ro™  5t  PaolV  Chun*. 
Thi3  record  i 
*jbs«q^j««r  deed?. 


recorded  Oriafesr  Sfl.lSSt  »ErK  CounT> 
25  of,  deeds  a>  p«?e  l58,as  partojpew  deed 
teReu.Willlom  SKettorv. 

i  par+  of, 


REDUCED     FACSIMILE     OF     THE     LITHOGRAPHED     PLAN     OF    THE     CHURCH     IN       - 
With  the  names  of  pew  holders  at  Easter,  1857. 
With  notes  and  additions  by  G.  H.  B. 
(See  pages  68  to  72,  100,  268,  27;.) 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  85 

April  13,  1 85 7,  the  treasurer  read  his  annual  report  to  the  vestry. 
The  receipts  were  $4,688.39,  including  the  ten  per  cent,  pew  tax  on  the 
valuation  of  the  sold  pews,  and  the  disbursements  were  $4,685.16. 

At  the  annual  election  on  Easter  Monday,  April  13,  1857,  Rus- 
sell H.  Heywood  and  Lester  Brace  were  elected  wardens,  and  Elijah 
Ford,  John  S.  Ganson,  Henry  K.  Viele,  DeWitt  C.  Weed,  John 
Pease,  Charles  W.  Evans,  Samuel  G.  Cornell  and  George  E.  Hayes, 
vestrymen. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  vestry  Charles  W.  Evans  was 
reappointed  clerk  and  also  treasurer  of  the  parish. 

May  4,  1857,  the  vestry  directed  that  the  tower  room  in  the  tower 
be  finished  off  and  furnished  as  a  committee  room  or  for  other  meet- 
ings, or  Sunday  School  purposes.  It  was  accordingly  fitted  up,  and 
often  used  by  bridal  parties  preparatory  to  their  procession  to  the 
chancel  to  have  the  marriage  ceremony  performed.  The  expense  was 
$208.08.  June  1,  1857,  Ralph  Williams  was  appointed  sexton  in  place 
of  William  Channon. 

July  6,  1857,  the  building  committee  reported  that  since  their 
report  on  December  4,  1855,  they  had  received  and  expended  $8,872.17, 
making  the  total  amount  received  and  expended  since  their  reappoint- 
ment in  May,  1854,  to  be  $29,438.20  ;  they  also  reported  that  the 
church  owned  fifty-two  cords  of  stone,  paid  for,  then  on  the  banks  of 
the  Erie  Canal  at  Hulberton,  N.  Y.;  that  it  would  cost  $5  per  ton  to 
land  the  same  in  Buffalo,  and  that  it  was  estimated  that  $7,567  would 
complete  the  spire  of  the  church.  The  vestry  directed  that  the  stone 
at  Hulberton  be  brought  to  Buffalo. 

August  14,  1857,  the  Chime  Fund  Association  of  the  parish 
reported  to  the  vestry  that  the  chime  of  bells  had  been  fully  com- 
pleted and  placed  in  the  tower,  and  that  the  association  transferred  them 
to  the  parish,  conditional  that  the  vestry  appropriate  $100  annually, 
if  necessary,  to  keep  them  in  order  and  to  pay  for  ringing  and  chiming 
them.     The  vestry  accordingly  did  so.* 

*  Note. — For  description  of  the  bells,  see  Appendix. 


86  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

September  14,  1857,  the  vestry  directed  a  stone  sidewalk  six  feet 
wide  to  be  laid  in  front  of  the  church  on  Erie  Street.  They  also 
directed  the  gallery  over  the  chapel  and  next  to  Pearl  Street  to  be 
taken  down,  and  it  was  accordingly  removed. 

1858. 

April  5,  1858,  the  treasurer  made  his  annual  report  to  the  vestry, 
showing  the  receipts  from  pew  taxes  at  ten  per  cent,  on  the  valuation  of 
the  sold  pews,  and  from  other  sources,  to  be  $5,067.41,  and  the  dis- 
bursements $5,056.18.  The  rector's  salary  was  $2,000  per  annum. 
The  treasurer  reported  that  $28,000  had  been  collected  for  parish 
expenses  since  the  occupancy  of  the  new  church  edifice,  being  for 
seven  and  a  half  years,  and  that  during  the  preceding  nine  years 
$97,500  had  been  expended  on  the  construction  of  the  church  edifice, 
which  amount,  including  the  $28,000  for  parish  expenses,  had  been  col- 
lected without  any  expense  to  the  parish.  He  also  reported  that  the 
floating  debt  of  the  parish  was  $222.17  over  and  above  the  resources, 
and  that  the  funded  debt  was  $4,2(5.67,  of  which  $3,500  was  for  the 
mortgage  on  the  rectory. 

At  the  annual  election  on  Easter  Monday,  April  5,  1858,  Russell 
H.  Heywood  and  Lester  Brace  were  elected  wardens,  and  John  S. 
Ganson,  William  H.  Walker,  Asher  P.  Nichols,  Hunting  S.  Chamber- 
lain, John  T.  Lacy,  John  D.  Shepard,  Dr.  Thomas  F.  Rochester  and 
Walter  Joy,  vestrymen. 

At  this  election  there  was  quite  an  organized  opposition  to  most  of 
the  last  vestry,  in  consequence  of  their  unwillingness  to  remove  the 
organ. 

The  new  vestry  appointed  William  Sutton  clerk,  and  DeWitt  C. 
Weed  treasurer.  The  treasurer  was  authorized  to  expend  $100  per 
annum  for  collecting  the  pew  taxes  and  rents. 

On  May  12,  1858,  the  vestry  appointed  a  committee  to  build  a  new 
fence  around  the  church  edifice. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  87 

1859. 

April  20,  1859,  the  Committee  reported  that  the  iron  fence  around 
the  church  edifice  was  finished  and  had  cost  $1,817.14. 

At  the  annual  election,  April  25,  1859,  the  same  vestry  were 
reelected,  and  John  T.  Lacy  was  appointed  clerk,  and  DeWitt  C.  Weed 
treasurer,  and  the  pew  tax  was  raised  from  ten  to  eleven  per  cent,  on 
the  valuation  of  the  pews. 

On  June  2,  1859,  Jacob  A.  Barker  died,  aged  sixty-six  years.  He 
was  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  the  city,  and  was  present  at  the 
burning  of  Buffalo  in  1S13,  at  which  time  he  was  taken  prisoner  by  the 
British. 

June  3,  1859,  the  vestry  adopted  resolutions  on  the  death  of  Jacob  A. 
Barker,  stating  that  "  he  might  be  called  the  father  of  the  parish. 
A  resident  in  Buffalo  many  years  before  its  organization,  he  was  its 
active  supporter  and  unswerving  friend  from  its  foundation  to  the  hour 
of  his  death.  Elected  a  member  of  its  vestry  on  Easter  Monday,  1823, 
he  gave  untiring  and  devoted  service  to  the  church  in  official  relations, 
with  the  exception  of  rare  intervals,  for  a  period  of  nearly  thirty-six 
years.  Witnessing  its  feeble  beginning  and  early  struggles,  he  was 
also  the  witness  of  its  late  progress,  and  he  lived  to  rejoice  in  its  full- 
ness of  strength  and  maturity.  When,  in  the  course  of  time,  the  parish 
resolved  to  erect  a  nobler  edifice  for  the  worship  of  Almighty  God 
and  the  honor  of  the  Church,  no  son  of  hers  threw  his  heart  and  ser- 
vices into  the  project  with  greater  alacrity  or  warmer  zeal.  He  gave 
his  time,  his  means,  and  his  prayers,  day  by  day,  almost  ;  he  watched 
with  affectionate  regard  its  growth  from  simple  outline  to  full  comple- 
tion, and  he  lived  to  pay  reverent  and  devout  worship  in  the  temple  which 
he  had  labored  so  zealously  to  rear.  In  private  life  he  was  endeared  to 
all  who  knew  him  —  his  courteous  manner,  his  kindness  of  disposition 
and  his  natural  unaffected  dignity  of  character  commanded  respect  and 
won  affection  ;  his  mind  was  strong,  his  life  was  pure." 


88  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

July  19,  1S59,  the  wardens  were  appointed  a  committee  to  wait  upon 
those  members  of  the  congregation  who  were  understood  to  be  opposed 
to  the  removal  of  the  organ,  and  to  say  to  them  that  the  large  majority 
of  the  vestry  considered  that  step  to  be  demanded  by  the  best  interest 
of  the  parish,  and  to  endeavor  to  induce  them  to  withdraw  their  oppo- 
sition to  the  removal.  The  committee  reported  to  the  vestry,  on  July 
27th,  that  a  number  of  persons  had  been  called  on,  and  were  strongly 
opposed  to  its  being  removed,  some  of  them  intimating  that  in  the 
event  of  its  removal  they  would  leave  the  parish.  According  to  the 
minutes  of  the  vestry  it  was  stated  that  Mr.  Evans  wished  to  make  a 
proposition  in  regard  to  the  music,  whereupon  the  subject  was  post- 
poned for  the  purpose  of  giving  him  an  opportunity  to  make  his  propo- 
sition in  form.  The  vestry  met  July  29,  1859,  and  the  proposition  was 
presented  to  the  vestry  in  writing,  signed  by  John  L.  Kimberly,  Charles 
W.  Evans,  Carlos  Cobb,  Jabez  B.  Bull,  John  Pease  and  A.  P.  Thomp- 
son, stating  that  a  general  participation  by  the  congregation  in  the 
singing  of  the  psalms  and  hymns  would  be  a  result  most  desirable, 
and  in  the  then  state  of  feeling  in  the  parish  that  it  would  be  better  to 
try  such  an  experiment  rather  than  resort  to  any  extreme  measure,  and 
that,  as  a  conciliatory  measure,  the  organ,  for  the  time  being,  should 
remain  in  its  then  location,  and  some  suitable  person  should  be 
engaged  as  leader,  who,  together  with  the  organist,  should  conduct 
and  lead  the  music.  It  was  proposed  that  if  the  vestry  agreed  to  the 
proposition,  that  the  signers  would  agree  to  defray  the  expenses 
attending  thereon,  not  exceeding  $200,  up  to  Easter,  1S60.  The 
vestry  accepted  the  proposition.  On  April  9,  i860,  the  vestry  returned 
thanks  to  Horace  F.  Kenyon  and  John  G.  Woehnert  for  their  voluntary 
aid  and  assistance  in  singing  in  the  choir  for  the  past  six  months 

i860. 

At  the  annual  election,  April  9,  i860,  R.  H.  Heywood  and  Lester 
Brace  were  elected  wardens,  and  William   H.  Walker,  John  T.  Lacy, 


THE     REVEREND     DOCTOR     SHELTON. 
From  a  photograph  taken  about  the  early  "co's. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  89 

Walter  Joy,  A.  Porter  Thompson,  Charles  W.  Evans,  Edward  M. 
Atwater,  Erastus  B.  Seymour  and  Dr.  Cornelius  C.  Wyckoff,  vestrymen. 
John  T.  Lacy  was  reappointed  clerk,  and  DeWitt  C.  Weed  treasurer. 
The  rate  of  tax  on  the  pews  was  fixed  at  eleven  per  cent,  on  their 
valuation. 

1 86l. 

In  March,  1861,  the  vestry  sold  to  Thomas  McGuire  the  stone 
quarry  owned  by  the  parish,  near  Hulberton,  Orleans  County,  on  the 
Erie  Canal,  on  condition  that  he  deliver  in  Buffalo  thirty-six  and  a  half 
cords  of  stone  by  September,  1861. 

At  the  annual  election,  April  1,  t86i,  R.  H.  Heywood  and  Lester 
Brace  were  elected  wardens,  and  Walter  Joy,  John  S.  Ganson,  Erastus 
B.  Seymour,  Carlos  Cobb,  William  H.  Walker,  Edward  M.  Atwater, 
Asher  P.  Nichols  and  Charles  W.  Evans,  vestrymen  ;  John  B.  Eaton 
was  appointed  clerk,  and  DeWitt  C.  Weed  treasurer.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Lynn  assisted  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  in  1861. 

1862. 

At  the  annual  election,  April  21,  1862,  R.  H.  Heywood  and  Lester 
Brace  were  elected  wardens,  and  Erastus  B.  Seymour,  Charles  W. 
Evans,  Asher  P.  Nichols,  William  H.  Walker,  Walter  Joy,  John  S. 
Ganson,  Edward  M.  Atwater  and  Seth  H.  Grosvenor,  vestrymen.  John 
B.  Eaton  was  appointed  clerk,  and  DeWitt  C.  Weed  treasurer. 

September  26,  1862,  John  B.  Eaton  having  resigned  as  clerk,  John 
B.  Seymour  was  appointed  in  his  place.  At  the  same  time  $1,000  was 
appropriated  by  the  vestry  to  enable  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  to  appoint  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Eigenbrodt  of  New  York  as  his  assistant. 

December  1,  1S62,  Dr.  Shelton  stated  to  the  vestry  that  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Eigenbrodt  having  declined,  he  nominated  the  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  C. 
Pitkin  as  his  assistant,  and  said  that  his  health  was  such  that  he  must 
for  the  present  entirely  relinquish  all  parochial  labor,  and  that  it  was 


90  History  of  St.  Paul 's  Church. 

necessary  he  should  have  an  assistant,  and  that  he  had  every  confidence 
in  the  ability  and  excellence  of  character  of  Dr.  Pitkin.  The  vestry 
cordially  accepted  the  nomination  and  voted  $2,000  per  annum  as  the 
compensation  of  Dr.  Pitkin,  and  appointed  a  committee  to  obtain  sub- 
scriptions from  the  congregation  to  aid  in  paying  the  same. 

1863.* 

At  the  annual  election  on  Easter  Monday,  April  6,  1863,  Lester  Brace 
and  Charles  W.  Evans  were  elected  wardens,  and  Erastus  B.  Seymour, 
Asher  P.  Nichols,  DeWitt  C.  Weed,  Samuel  G.  Cornell,  William  H. 
Walker,  Walter  Joy,  Seth  H.  Grosvenor  and  Lauren  C.  Woodruff,  ves- 
trymen ;  Mr.  Evans  was  elected  Warden  in  place  of  R.  H.  Heywood, 
in  consequence  of  Mr.  Heywood's  necessarily  frequent  absence  from 
the  city;  John  B.  Seymour  was  appointed  clerk,  and  DeWitt  C.  Weed 
treasurer. 

At  the  vestry  meeting,  April  9th,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pitkin  signified  his 
acceptance  of  his  appointment  as  assistant  minister. 

May  22,  1863,  the  vestry  was  called  together  to  adopt  resolutions 
on  the  death  of  Edward  S.  Warren.  Dr.  Shelton  remarked  that  the 
parish  had  lost  one  of  its  most  liberal  supporters,  and  he  himself  one 

*  During  the  trying  years  of  the  Civil  War  St.  Paul's  parish  did  its  share  of  the 
work  for  the  relief  of  our  soldiers. 

Societies  were  formed  in  many  of  the  Episcopal  churches  for  sending  supplies 
through  the  Sanitary  Commission.  The  Presbyterian  and  other  churches  usually  sent 
through  the  "  Christian  Commission." 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Staats  Seymour,  of  St.  Paul's,  was  for  a  long  time  local  president 
of  the  Sanitary  Commission,  and  was  the  life  of  the  work  in  Buffalo. 

Mrs.  John  Pease,  Mrs.  Frank  Demarest,  Miss  Harriet  Hayes  (now  Mrs. 
Charles  II.  Smith,  wife  of  the  rector  of  St.  James's)  and  other  women  of  St.  Paul's 
parish  worked  at  the  Aid  Rooms  of  the  Sanitary  Commission  in  cutting  out  garments 
to  be  given  to  various  parish  societies  to  make  up  for  the  soldiers.  The  work  also 
consisted  in  receiving  donations,  giving  out  work,  packing  boxes  and  barrels,  and 
sending  them  to  the  army,  and  in  assisting  disabled  soldiers.  A  Soldiers'  Home  was 
also  established  temporarily  in  Buffalo  during  the  latter  part  of  the  War. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Clmrch.  91 

of  his  warmest  personal  friends.  The  vestry  commemorated  his  mem- 
ory in  that  "  he  loved  everything  associated  with  the  parish  and  its  pros- 
perity, always  its  staunch  supporter  and  for  many  years  an  active  and 
useful  member  of  the  vestry.  In  the  erection  of  the  church  edifice  he 
was  a  zealous  and  constant  participant,  and  he  looked  forward  with 
a  swelling  heart  to  the  joyous  day  when,  all  her  towers  completed  and 
every  pinnacle  set,  the  whole  pile  would  command  the  tribute  of  love 
from  every  parishioner  and  the  admiration  of  every  churchman;  but 
that  pleasure  was  denied  him  —  his  sun  of  life  went  down  before  that 
happy  consummation." 

Edward  Stevens  Warren  was  born  at  Middlebury,  Vermont,  May  16, 
1814,  and  graduated  at  Middlebury  College  in  1833  ;  he  came  to  Buf- 
falo early  in  1834,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1837.  In  1839  he 
married  Agnes  L.,  second  daughter  of  Sheldon  Thompson.  He  died 
after  a  very  brief  illness,  May  20,  1863.  He  was  one  of  the  vestry  of 
St.  Paul's  in  1842,  and  again  from  1850  to  1853. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  September  7,  1863,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton 
again  adverted  to  his  ill-health,  and  said  that  on  the  nth  of  September 
he  would  be  sixty-five,  and  had  been  the  rector  for  thirty-four  years. 
He  said  he  was  distressed  to  be  compelled  to  say  that  he  felt  the  hand  on 
him  which  was  ere  long  to  take  him  from  the  responsibilities  and  duties 
as  from  the  distresses  and  pains  of  life.  He  was  unable  to  go  on  ;  his 
work  was  essentially  finished.  Henceforth,  he  must  look  for  some  one 
to  fill  his  place,  and  named  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pitkin  as  being  acceptable  to 
himself  and  probably  to  the  parish,  and  he  had  no  doubt  he  would  be 
willing  to  assume  the  duties  of  assistant  rector.  The  vestry  accord- 
ingly invited  the  Rev.  Thomas  Clapp  Pitkin  to  accept  the  assistant 
rectorship  of  the  parish,  at  an  annual  salary  of  $2,000,  and  the  further 
sum  of  $500  for  rent  of  a  parsonage,  to  commence  September  1,  1863. 
Fourteen  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  were  subscribed  by  members  of 
the  congregation  towards  paying  Rev.  Dr.  Pitkin's  salary. 

It  was  reported  to  the  vestry  that  the  city  had  placed  a  gas  light  on 
Pearl  Street,  in  front  of  the  main  entrance  of  the  church. 


92  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  September  14,  1863,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Pitkin  accepted  the  assistant  rectorship  of  the  parish. 

November  23,  1863,  a  committee,  consisting  of  L.  C.  Woodruff,  S.  G. 
Cornell  and  C.  W.  Evans,  was  appointed  to  investigate  the  propriety  of 
removing  the  organ.  December  2 1 ,  1 863,  Messrs.  Woodruff  and  Cornell, 
from  the  committee  relative  to  the  organ,  made  their  report  to  the  vestry 
stating  that  they  had  conversed  with  many  of  the  congregation  in  order 
to  ascertain  the  general  sentiments  of  the  parish,  had  taken  the  opinion 
of  musical  circles,  and  had  procured  an  estimate  of  the  expense  with  a 
proposition  from  competent  parties  to  do  the  work  ;  that  they  believed 
the  tones  of  the  organ  would  be  greatly  improved  and  brought  out  in  full 
volume  were  it  placed  in  the  gallery.  They  regarded  its  then  position 
as  injurious  to  the  instrument  and  inconvenient  of  access  for  repairs. 
They  believed  that  a  great  majority  of  the  congregation  desired  the  re- 
moval of  the  organ  to  the  gallery,  and  their  wishes  should  be  respected  ; 
and  they  therefore  recommended  its  early  removal  to  that  position, 

Mr.  Evans,  from  the  same  committee,  made  a  minority  report  stat- 
ing that  he  was  unable  to  agree  with  the  majority  of  the  committee  ; 
that  the  organ  was  placed  in  the  then  position  by  universal  consent  in 
185 1,  and  no  objections  were  made  to  its  being  there  for  five  years 
afterwards  ;  that  the  question  of  its  removal  had  been  more  or  less 
agitated  for  six  years,  causing  considerable  feeling,  that  the  vestry 
should  not  exercise  any  right  it  might  have  to  remove  it  unless  it  could 
be  shown  that  the  removal  was  beneficial  to  the  parish,  not  only  from  a 
pecuniary  point  of  view  but  more  especially  in  the  proper  administra- 
tion of  the  church  services.  Many  recent  writers  on  the  subject 
assume  that  the  position  of  a  church  organ  should  be  where  our  organ 
then  was.  If  the  music  is  under  the  control  of  the  rector,  it  should  be 
in  such  a  position  that  he  can  readily  control  it ;  he  could  not  so  readily 
control  it  in  the  gallery.  In  its  present  position  it  faces  the  congrega- 
tion, and  it  being  very  natural  to  turn  to  the  point  from  whence  sound 
proceeds,  there  is  no  occasion  for  the  people  to  turn  from  the  chancel 
as  we   often  see  them  do   in  those  congregations  where  the  organ  is 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  93 

in  the  gallery — a  practice,  though  natural,  yet  very  un-churchlike  and 
which  no  doubt  would  become  common  if  our  music  were  generally 
located  in  the  gallery.  Many  recently  erected  church  edifices  have 
their  organs  in  the  vicinity  of  the  chancel.  Both  reports  were  accepted 
by  the  vestry,  and  ordered  to  be  recorded  in  the  minutes.  The 
resolution  was  offered  that  it  was  expedient  to  remove  the  organ  from 
its  then  location,  and  it  was  passed  by  a  majority  of  two.  A  resolution 
was  then  offered  that  the  organ  be  removed  to  the  gallery  or  organ 
loft,  provided  that  the  recess  where  it  then  was  should  be  properly 
closed,  and  the  new  pews  be  placed  in  their  proper  position,  the  whole 
to  be  done  without  expense  to  the  parish.  The  resolution  was  passed, 
Mr.  Evans  alone  voting  in  the  negative. 

The  vestry  then  appointed  a  committee  to  superintend  the  removal. 

The  vestry  met  December  25,  1863,  and  passed  resolutions  on  the 
occasion  of  the  very  sudden  death  of  Walter  Joy,  who  was  one  of  the 
vestry  in  1839,  1840,  1841  and  1842,  and  again  from  1858  to  1863. 
He  was  born  in  1810,  and  came  to  Buffalo  with  his  father,  Thaddeus 
Joy,  in  1824. 

The  committee  reported  to  the  vestry  that  fifty-one  members  of 
the  congregation  had  paid  $911  toward  the  expense  of  removing  and 
fitting  up  the  organ  in  the  gallery.  Forty  dollars  additional  was  sub- 
sequently received  from  other  members. 

1864. 

The  treasurer  made  his  annual  report  at  Easter,  1864,  showing  the 
receipt  of  $4,620.35  for  pew  rent,  and  $1,167.50  subscribed  and  paid 
towards  the  salary  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pitkin.  He  estimated  the 
expenses  for  the  year  ending  Easter,  1865,  to  be  $7,010. 

At  the  annual  election  on  Easter  Monday,  March  28,  1864,  Lester 
Brace  and  Charles  W.  Evans  were  elected  wardens,  and  Lauren  C. 
Woodruff,  Asher  P.  Nichols,  William  H.  Walker,  Samuel  G.  Cornell, 
Dr.    Thomas  F.   Rochester,  James   W.    Brown,   Edwin    Hurlbert   and 


94  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

George  E.  Hayes,  vestrymen  ;  John  B.  Seymour  was  appointed  clerk 
and  Devvitt  C.  Weed  treasurer.  The  rate  of  tax  was  fixed  at  thirteen 
per  cent,  on  the  valuation  of  the  pews.  One  thousand  dollars  was 
appropriated  to  pay  for  the  church  music. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  presided  at  all  of  the  meetings  of  the  vestry, 
prior  to  and  including  the  meeting  of  March  30,  1864. 

The  vestry  met  May  14,  1864,  and  passed  resolutions  on  the  occa- 
sion of  the  sudden  death  of  Seth  H.  Grosvenor. 

In  the  resolutions  it  was  stated  that  "in  the  faithfulness  with  which 
our  departed  friend  discharged  his  duties  as  a  member  of  the  parish, 
as  a  vestryman  and  a  communicant  of  the  church,  in  his  substantial 
worth  and  integrity  of  Christian  character,  in  his  readiness  to  promote 
all  good  works,  and  in  his  genial  kindliness  of  disposition  and  the 
Christian  courtesy  of  all  his  intercourse  in  society,  we  recognize  an 
example  worthy  of  imitation." 

Mr.  Grosvenor  was  one  of  the  vestry  in  1862  and  1863,  and  was 
always  a  prominent  member  of  the  parish.  He  died  very  suddenly 
at  his  residence  in  Buffalo,  May  13,  1864,  aged  52  years. 

His  wife,  who,  before  her  marriage,  was  Miss  Jane  Wey,  was  a 
niece  of  Mrs.  Shelton,  the  wife  of  the  rector  ;  she  survives  him,  together 
with  one  son  and  three  daughters,  the  eldest  of  whom  is  Mrs.  William 
H.  Glenny,  Jr.  The  family  have  always  been  prominent  members  of 
St.  Paul's,  and  most  active  and  efficient  in  parish  work. 

July  29,  1864,  the  vestry  returned  thanks  to  the  Rev.  William  A. 
Matson  for  the  voluntary  and  efficient  aid  given  by  him  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  sounding  board  over  the  pulpit. 

The  vestry  met  August  24,  1864.  Dr.  Shelton  stated  that  his 
health  had  been  greatly  improved  by  his  journey  during  the  summer; 
that  he  had  been  invited  to  visit  Europe,  and  that  he  would  be  happy 
to  accept,  provided  it  was  agreeable  to  the  vestry.  Whereupon,  the 
vestry  resolved  that  they  should  accord  the  leave  of  absence,  and  con- 
gratulated the  rector  upon  the  happy  auspices  under  which  the  pro- 
posed journey  was  to  be  taken  ;  that  they  wished  him  a  happy  voyage, 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  95 

and  would  pray  for   his  safe  return,  with  restored  health,  to  the   parish 
which  held  him  in  most  affectionate  regard.* 

The  vestry  met  December  20,  1864,  and  adopted  resolutions  on  the 
occasion  of  the  death  of  Stephen  Walker,  one  of  the  oldest  members  of 
the  parish,  a  vestryman  for  twenty  years,  and  for  more  than  a  quarter  of 
a  century  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School.  The  vestry  resolved 
to  place  on  record  its  high  estimate  of  his  moral  and  religious  charac- 
ter, his  honesty  and  faithfulness,  his  modest,  cheerful  piety,  his  practi- 
cal and  Christian  zeal,  his  unswerving  devotion  to  the  church,  and  his 
energy  and  practical  perseverance  in  all  good  works.  They  recognized 
in  the  life  and  labors  of  the  deceased  an  instance  of  the  practical  and 
efficient  aid  that  can  be  afforded  by  the  laymen  of  the  church  in 
furthering  the  cause  of  religion  and  sound  Christian  morals,  and 
they  recommended  his  example  to  imitation  in  the  parish.  They 
extended  to  the  family  of  the  deceased  their  heart-felt  sympathy  in 
the  great  loss  they  had  sustained,  and,  while  directing  them  to  Him 
who  can  alone  give  consolation  in  their  sorrow,  they  affectionately 
reminded  them  of  the  good  name  which  he  left  behind  as  their  most 
precious  legacy. 

Stephen  Walker  died  December  16,  1S64,  in  the  71st  year  of  his 
age.     In  an  obituary  notice  published  in  one  of  the  Buffalo  papers  it 


*  Dr.  Shelton  sailed  for  the  old  world  September  3,  1864,  and  September  21st, 
at  the  United  States  Legation  in  Paris,  he  united  in  marriage  his  kinsman  Henry 
Shelton  Sanford,  United  States  Minister  to  Belgium,  and  Gertrude  Ellen,  daughter 
of  John  DuPuy,  Esq.,  of  Philadelphia.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sanford  afterwards  —  in 
1870  —  presented  the  first  brass  eagle  lectern  to  St.  Paul's  Church. 

Leaving  Paris,  Dr.  Shelton  traveled  through  Italy,  and  in  January,  1865,  he 
visited  the  Nile;  in  March  and  April,  he  traveled  through  the  Holy  Land,  making 
the  entire  route  from  Bairout  to  Joppa  (Jaffa)  on  horseback. 

On  his  return  to  Buffalo,  nearly  every  family  in  the  parish  found  itself  the 
recipient  of  some  memento  of  the  rector's  travels  —  a  circle  of  olive  wood  from  the 
Mount,  with  the  word  "Jerusalem"  in  Hebrew  characters,  or  a  piece  of  polished 
marble  marked  "  Pesten  "  —  something  to  remind  them  of  the  scenes  through  which 
he  had  passed. 


g6  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

was  stated  that  "  Mr.  Walker  was  brought  up  in  the  Society  of  Friends, 
and  it  was  not  until  after  his  marriage  that  he  became  attached  to  the 
church.  His  intellect  was  of  a  very  superior  order,  and  he  became 
thoroughly  conversant  with  her  history  and  polity,  and  was  able  at  all 
times  to  vindicate  her  claims.  Removing  to  Utica,  he  was  made  a  ves- 
tryman of  Trinity  Church,  and  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School. 
In  1832,  Mr.  Walker  removed  to  Buffalo,  and  immediately  becoming  a 
member  of  St.  Paul's  parish,  he  remained  in  it  until  his  death."  Mr. 
Walker  was  superintendent  of  St.  Paul's  Sunday  School  from  1833,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  Vestry  from  1837  to  1S51,  a  period  of  fifteen  years. 
Mrs.  Walker,  the  wife  of  Stephen  Walker,  died  February  8,  1868. 
They  were  the  parents  of  the  late  Charles  R.  Walker,  and  of  William  H. 
Walker,  now,  and  for  many  years  past,  one  of  the  Wardens  of  St.  Paul's 
and  foremost  in  furthering  the  prosperity  of  the  parish. 

1865. 

The  vestry  met  April  6,  1865,  and  adopted  resolutions  on  the  occa- 
sion of  the  death  of  the  Rt.  Rev.  William  Heathcote  De  Lancey,  Bishop 
of  the  Diocese  of  Western  New  York,  as  follows  : 

"  Whereas,  it  has  pleased  Almighty  God  in  His  wise  providence,  to 
take  out  of  this  world  the  soul  of  our  beloved  Diocesan,  the  Rt.  Rev. 
William  Heathcote  De  Lancey,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  D.  C.  L.,  therefore  : 

Unsolved,  That  while  we  bow  humbly  to  the  Divine  Will  in  this  re- 
moval, we  desire  to  place  on  record  our  appreciation  of  the  character 
and  example  of  the  deceased  as  a  Christian  man  and  Bishop  ;  in  his 
zeal,  his  singleness  of  purpose,  his  devotion  to  his  work,  his  eminent 
discretion,  his  courtesy  in  all  his  intercourse  with  the  clergy  and  the 
laity  ;  and  our  sense  of  the  great  loss  sustained  by  the  church,  not 
only  in  this  diocese,  but  throughout  our  land. 

Resolved,  That  to  his  wisdom  in  policy,  prudence  as  well  as  energy 
in  action,  and  single  devotion  to  the  church  over  which  he  presided, 


THE  RIGHT  REVEREND  WILLIAM  HEATHCOTE  DrLANCEY,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  D.  C.  L.  (Oxon.). 
First  Bishop  of  Western  New  York.  1839-1865.     Born,  1797  ;  died,  1865. 


From   the   engraving   by   A.    H.    Ritchie, 
published  in  1854. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  97 

we  are  mainly  indebted,  with  the  Divine  blessing,  for  the  unity,  the 
harmony,  the  compact  strength,  and  the  intelligent  churchmanship, 
which  pre-eminently  distinguish  the  Diocese  of  Western  New  York. 

Resolved,  That  in  token  of  respect,  and  as  a  mark  of  sorrow,  St. 
Paul's  Church  shall  be  draped  in  mourning,  and  that  Messrs.  Evans, 
Cornell  and  Weed  be  appointed  a  committee  to  attend  the  funeral." 

William  Heathcote  De  Lancey,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  D.  C.  L.  (Oxon.), 
the  first  bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Western  New  York,  was  born  at 
Mamaroneck,  Westchester  County,  New  York,  October  8,  1797.  He 
was  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1S17,  studied  theology  under  the 
direction  of  Bishop  Hobart,  and  received  deacon's  orders  in  1819. 
Ordained  to  the  priesthood  in  Trinity  Church,  New  York,  in  1822,  he 
soon  after  became  personal  assistant  to  the  venerable  Bishop  White  of 
Philadelphia,  in  the  three  churches  of  which  that  prelate  was  rector. 
Upon  the  reorganization  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  1828,  he 
was  chosen  provost  of  that  institution,  in  which  office  he  remained  for 
five  years,  and  then  resumed  the  office  of  assistant  minister  of  St. 
Peter's  Church.  In  1838  the  Diocese  of  New  York,  comprising  the 
whole  State,  was  divided  ;  the  eastern  portion  retaining  the  old  name, 
and  at  the  primary  convention  of  the  new  Diocese,  that  of  Western  New 
York,  held  at  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  November  1,  1838,  Dr.  De  Lancey  was 
chosen  its  first  bishop,  and  he  was  consecrated  May  9,  1839,  at  Auburn, 
N.  Y.  He  removed  to  Geneva,  the  seat  of  the  Diocesan  College,  now 
called  Hobart  College,  which  was  chiefly  indebted  to  his  efficient  efforts 
for  its  support.  He  also  instituted  a  system  of  diocesan  missions,  by 
which  a  corps  of  laborers,  unusually  large  in  proportion  to  the  population 
and  wealth  of  the  diocese,  have  been  sustained  without  incurring  debt. 

In  an  article  contributed  to  the  Utica  Observer  by  the  Rev.  W.  A. 
Matson,  he  says  that  :  "  Bishop  De  Lancey,  as  a  scholar,  a  theologian, 
a  profound  thinker,  an  eloquent  preacher,  and  an  executive  officer,  had 
no  superior  on  the  bench  of  bishops  of  the  American  church.  He 
won  the  clergy  to  him,  not  less  by  the  admiration  all  felt  for  his  wis- 
dom and  talents,  than  for  his  affectionate  and  fatherly  manner.     Every 


98  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

clergyman  in  the  diocese  felt  that  the  bishop  was  his  best  friend. 
.  .  .  .  Under  his  care  and  supervision,  the  Diocese  of  Western 
New  York  acquired  the  title  of  '  The  Model  Diocese.'  " 

Bishop  De  Lancey  died  at  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  April  5,  1865,  and  was 
succeeded  in  the  diocese  by  Bishop  Coxe,  who  had  been  consecrated 
January  4.  1865,  and  had  been  assistant  bishop  of  the  diocese  until 
Bishop  De  Lancey's  death. 

The  Right  Rev.  Arthur  Cleveland  Coxe,  D.  D.,  S.  T.  D.,  LL.  D., 
Second  Bishop  of  Western  New  York,  was  born  in  Morris  County, 
N.  J.,  May  10,  1818.  In  1820  his  parents  removed  to  New  York, 
where  his  boyhood  and  youth  were  passed.  He  was  graduated  with 
distinction,  at  the  age  of  20,  from  the  University  of  the  city  of  New 
York.  He  had  already,  at  that  time,  become  an  author  and  a  con- 
tributor to  periodical  literature.  He  was  an  adherent  of  the  Epis- 
copal Church  from  childhood,  under  the  influence  of  maternal  rela- 
tives, and,  after  taking  his  first  degree,  he  turned  himself  wholly  to  the 
service  of  the  church.  He  was  graduated  in  theology  at  the  General 
Theological  Seminary  in  St.  Paul's  Chapel,  in  1S41  ;  was  ordered 
Deacon,  June  27,  1841,  by  Bishop  B.  T.  Onderdonk,  and  ordained 
Priest,  September  25,  1842,  in  St.  John's  Church,  Hartford,  Conn.,  by 
Bishop  Brownell.  He  first  took  charge  of  St.  Ann's  Church,  at  Mor- 
risania,  N.  Y.,  where  he  remained  until  1842,  when  he  removed  to  Con- 
necticut, and  was  rector  of  St.  John's  Church,  Hartford,  until  1854  In 
1 85 1  he  made  an  extensive  European  tour.  He  was  rector  of  Grace 
Church,  Baltimore,  from  1854  to  1863;  and  of  Calvary  Church,  New 
York  city,  from  1863  to  1865.  In  1856  he  was  elected  to  the  Episco- 
pate of  Texas,  but  declined.  He  received  the  degree  of  D.  D.  from 
St.  James'  College,  Hagerstown,  Maryland,  in  1856  ;  that  of  S.  T.  D. 
from  Trinity  College,  Hartford,  in  1868,  and  that  of  LL.  I)  from 
Kenyon  College,  Gambier,  Ohio,  in  1868.  He  was  consecrated  to  the 
Episcopate  in  Trinity  Church,  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  January  4.  1 865,  by  Bishops 
De  Lancey  of  Western  New  York,  Hopkins  of  Vermont,  McCoscry 
of  Michigan,  Potter  of  New  York,  Odenheimer  of  New  Jersey,  and  Tal- 


THE     RIGHT     REVEREND     ARTHUR     CLEVELAND    COXE,    D.  D.,  S.  T.  D.,  LL.  D. 
Second  Bishop  of  Western  New  York,  1865-1896.     Born,  1818  ;  died,  1896. 


From  a  photograph   taken  by  Le  Teune, 
Paris,  in  1869. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  99 

bot  of  Indiana.  Upon  the  death  of  Bishop  De  Lancey,  in  April,  1865, 
he  became  the  second  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Western  New  York.  In 
1868-9  tne  diocese  was  divided,  by  setting  off  the  counties  east  of 
Seneca  Lake,  as  far  as  Herkimer  County,  and  that  territory  was  made 
the  Diocese  of  Central  New  York. 

Bishop  Coxe  has  the  gift  of  eloquence  to  a  remarkable  degree,  and 
an  intense  earnestness  which  carries  conviction,  and  he  usually  preaches 
without  notes. 

Notwithstanding  his  devoted  labors  in  his  different  pastorates,  and 
the  engrossing  duties  of  his  Episcopal  office,  his  life  has  been  full  of 
literary  activity,  and  many  valuable  and  scholarly  books  and  pamphlets 
on  ecclesiastical  and  kindred  topics  have  appeared  from  time  to  time 
from  his  pen,  and  have  been  widely  read,  not  only  in  America  but  in 
many  European  countries. 

As  the  "  poet  of  devotion  and  the  Church "  he  has  won  an 
acknowledged  place.  Especially  appreciated  are  his  "  Christian 
Ballads,"  first  published  in  1845,  and  which  since  then  have  passed 
through  many  editions  both  here  and  abroad. 

At  the  annual  election  on  Easter  Monday,  April  17,  1865,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Pitkin  presided  as  assistant  rector,  and  Lester  Brace  and  Charles  W. 
Evans  were  elected  wardens,  and  L.  C.  Woodruff,  A.  P.  Nichols,  William 
H.  Walker,  S.  G.  Cornell,  G.  S.  Hazard,  Dr.  Thomas  F.  Rochester, 
Edwin  Hurlbert  and  James  W.  Brown,  vestrymen.  At  a  subsequent 
meeting  of  the  vestry,  on  April  20th,  John  B.  Seymour  was  appointed 
clerk,  and  DeWitt  C.  Weed  treasurer.  It  was  resolved  that  a  tax  of 
twenty  per  cent,  be  levied  on  the  pews  to  pay  the  parish  expenses  for 
the  coming  year.  The  vestry  gave  as  the  reason  for  the  advance,  that 
although  the  finances  had  been  managed  with  great  skill  and  rare  fidelity, 
yet  still  the  deficiency  in  the  revenue  existed  in  consequence  of  the 
largely  increased  expenses  of  the  parish.  It  was  at  first  thought  that 
the  effort  would  be  made  to  raise  the  amount  by  subscription,  but  to 
that  method  very  grave  objections  existed.     If  all  would  subscribe  in 


IOO  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

proportion  to  their  ability  there  would  be  no  difficulty,  but  the  vestry 
found  by  experience  that  a  large  number  of  persons  refused  to  con- 
tribute in  that  way,  saying  at  the  same  time  that  they  wished  the  tax 
put  on  the  pews,  and  the  vestry  had  decided  to  do  so,  believing  that 
the  fairness  and  equity  of  it  would  be  acknowledged  by  all,  and  that 
the  increased  assessment  would  be  cheerfully  met  by  the  congrega- 
tion. 

The  treasurer  made  his  annual  report  for  the  year  ending  at  Easter, 
1865,  showing  the  receipts  for  pew  taxes  $5,165.42;  contributions  to 
pay  the  assistant  rector,  $2,295  ;  paid  the  rector  and  assistant  rector 
$3,854.63;  music,  $1,096.19;  other  disbursements,  $1,248.73.  He 
estimated  the  parish  expenses  for  the  year  ending  Easter,  1866,  to  be 
$8,277.05,  and  if  the  tax  was  fixed  at  thirteen  per  cent,  on  the  valuation 
of  the  pews,  the  deficiency  would  be  $3,120.63.  The  vestry,  however, 
directed  the  tax  to  be  twenty  per  cent,  on  the  $44,625.50  of  the  pews 
sold,  and  to  rent  the  $13,737.50  of  unsold  pews,  making  a  total  valuation 
of  the  pews  to  be  $58,363.  The  special  fund  from  sales  of  pews  and 
contributions  amounted  to  $3,859.30.  It  was  expended  for  the  follow- 
ing purposes:  Altering  seats  and  doors,  $761.54  ;  cutting  new  doors, 
$231.95;  painting,  $109.26  ;  making  curtains,  $264.35  ;  three  furnaces, 
$850;  three  stoves,  $215.75;  repairing  roof  of  church,  $710.75; 
making  and  repairing  sewers,  $149.76  ;  other  items,  $354.91,  and  the 
balance,  $311.03,  was  used  for  parish  expenses.  The  item  of  $231.95 
for  cutting  new  doors  was  for  an  alteration  in  the  original  plan,  there 
being  no  doorways  from  the  main  vestibule  to  the  entrance  on  Erie 
Street,  or  to  the  north  aisle  Pearl  Street  entrance,  and  to  make  these 
communications,  the  large  doorways  were  cut  out  of  the  solid  stone 
wall  ;  this  was  done  in  the  year  1864.* 


*  It  will  be  noticed  on  examination  of  the  original  ground  plan  of  the  church  that 
there  were  doorways  at  the  west  end  of  each  of  the  side  aisles.  These  doorways  led 
from  separate  vestibules,  the  one  at  the  end  of  the  south  aisle  from  the  Erie  Street 
vestibule,  and  that  at  the  end  of  the  north  aisle  from  the  smaller  Pearl  Street  vestibule. 
The  space,  which  was  afterwards  partitioned  off  and  made  into  the  main  vestibule, 


History*of  St.  Paul's  Church.  101 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  July  25,  1865,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pitkin, 
assistant  rector,  in  the  chair,  it  was  ordered  to  be  entered  on  the 
minutes  that  $20,104  had  been  subscribed  by  the  churchmen  of  Buffalo 
to  pay  for  the  residence  of  the  Bishop  of  Western  New  York  —  of  which 
$6,750  had  been  subscribed  by  the  parishioners  of  St.  Paul's  Church, 
$5,450  by  Trinity,  $4,733  by  St.  John's,  $1,500  by  Grace  Church,  $800 
by  Ascension,  $581  by  St.  Luke's,  and  $290  by  St.  James'  Church,  and 
that  the  committee  had  purchased  the  residence  of  Henry  W.  Rogers, 
on  the  south-west  corner  of  Delaware  Avenue  and  Tracy  Street  in 
Buffalo,  for  $20,000. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  on  December  5,  1865,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Shelton,  having  returned  from  Europe,  presided,  and  $100  was  voted 
to  dress  the  church  with  evergreens  at  Christmas. 

1866. 

March  27,  1866,  the  vestry  designated  pews  53  and  55  charged 
and  a  double  pew  in  the  chapel  was  set  apart  instead  for  the  family 
of  Bishop  Coxe. 


was  at  first  filled  with  pews  to  within  a  few  feet  of  the  main  or  west  entrance  of  the 
church,  and  the  two  vestibules  mentioned  above  were  entirely  separate  from  this 
space.  The  main  doorway,  or  west  entrance,  originally  opened  directly  opposite  the 
main  aisle.  It  was  this  doorway  of  which  Mr.  Jacob  A.  Barker  of  the  building  com- 
mittee writes  to  Mr.  Upjohn  in  August,  1854,  asking  if  outer  doors  cannot  be  arranged 
there.  He  says  :  "  Our  people  have  almost  abandoned  the  church  in  the  winter,  in 
consequence  of  the  seeming  impossibility  of  warming  it,  and  this  porch  looks  directly 
into  the  eye  of  the  winter  winds."  Afterwards  a  west  gallery  was  built,  and  in  1864 
the  organ  was  removed  to  it,  the  pews  under  this  gallery  were  removed,  a  glass  parti- 
tion was  placed  across,  and  thus  a  large  main  vestibule  was  formed  ;  the  doorways  at 
the  ends  of  the  two  aisles  were  walled  up  and  made  into  deeply  recessed  niches,  and 
doorways  were  cut  through  the  solid  stone  walls,  from  the  Erie  Street  entrance  and 
from  the  smaller  Pearl  Street  entrance,  into  the  main  vestibule.  The  old  doorways  at 
the  western  end,  opening  into  the  north  and  south  aisles,  were  plainly  visible  after  the 
fire  of  1888,  and  show  distinctly  in  the  illustration  given  in  this  volume  of  the  interior 
of  the  ruins  of  the  west  end  of  the  church. 


102  History  of  St.   Paul's  Church. 

The  treasurer  reported  that  $1,815  was  due  and  unpaid  for  pew 
taxes.  The  vestry  invited  Bishop  Coxe  to  make  St.  Paul's  Church  the 
Cathedral  Church  of  the  Diocese  of  Western  New  York. 

The  treasurer  made  his  annual  report,  that  $8,252.18  had  been 
received  for  pew  rents  and  other  items,  and  $1,869.91  had  been 
paid  to  the  rector  and  the  assistant  rector,  $1,125.67  for  church 
music,  $300  for  the  sexton,  and  $1,879.39  f°r  insurance,  taxes,  inter- 
est and  other  items,  leaving  a  balance  of  $77.71  on  hand.  He 
estimated  the  expenses  for  the  year  ending  Easter,  1867,  to  be 
$7,420,  including  $2,000  for  the  rector,  with  the  rectory,  and  $2,500 
for  the  assistant  rector.  Three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  additional 
had  been  subscribed  to  pay  for  the  bishop's  residence  by  mem- 
bers of  St.  Paul's  Church,  and  also  $690  towards  furnishing  the 
same. 

At  the  annual  election,  Easter  Monday,  April  2,  1866,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Shelton  presiding  as  the  rector,  Lester  Brace  and  Charles  W. 
Evans  were  elected  wardens,  and  Lauren  C.  Woodruff,  Asher  P. 
Nichols,  Edwin  Hurlbert,  Samuel  G.  Cornell,  James  Sweeney,  James 
W.  Brown,  William  H.  Walker  and  Dr.  Thomas  F.  Rochester,  vestry- 
men. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  vestry  on  April  4th,  John  B. 
Seymour  was  appointed  clerk,  and  DeWitt  C.  Weed  treasurer. 

A  communication  was  received  from  Bishop  Coxe  accepting  St. 
Paul's  Church  as  the  Cathedral  Church  of  the  Diocese. 

The  vestry  assessed  a  tax  of  eighteen  per  cent,  on  the  valuation  of 
the  pews  to  pay  the  parish  expenses  for  the  coming  year. 

The  vestry  met  April  25,  1866,  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  presided,  and 
Bishop  Coxe  was  present  by  invitation  to  advise  with  the  vestry  relative 
to  making  St.  Paul's  the  Cathedral  Church.  The  bishop  addressed  the 
vestry  and  stated  that  he  was  aware  that  he  had  not  acquired  any  legal 
rights  by  the  vote  of  the  vestry  and  that  whatever  use  he  made  of  the 
church  should  be  at  all  times  subject  to  the  wishes  of  the  rector  with 
whom  he  should  in  all  instances  wish  to  confer. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  103 

The  vestry  appointed  a  committee,  consisting  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Shelton,  A.  P.  Nichols  and  S.  G.  Cornell,  to  propose  a  plan  to  carry 
out  the  design  of  making  St.  Paul's  Church,  at  the  same  time,  a  parish 
church  and  the  Cathedral  Church  of  the  Diocese. 

The  vestry  met  October  11,  1866.  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  reported  that 
$16,065  had  been  subscribed  to  complete  the  church  edifice,  to  which 
was  to  be  added  $465  then  in  bank,  making  $16,530,  and  that  he 
thought  $3,000  more  could  be  depended  on  to  complete  the  church 
edifice  in  all  its  parts.  Whereupon,  the  vestry  appointed  Samuel  G. 
Cornell,  Charles  W.  Evans,  Edwin  Hurlbert,  James  W.  Brown  and 
DeWitt  C.  Weed  the  building  committee  to  complete  the  church 
edifice.* 


*  October  13,  1866. —  It  was  resolved  to  do  the   work  by  contract,  if  possible. 

December  21,  1866. —  Mr.  Upjohn  writes  to  Dr.  Shelton  : — "  I  have  sent  by  express 
the  plans  for  the  furniture  of  the  chancel  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  also  the  plan  of  the 
Episcopal  chair.  .  .  .  I  have  concluded  to  dispense  with  the  crockets — the  beads 
on  each  angle  of  the  spire  (as  shown  on  some  of  the  drawings),  and  to  leave  off  the 
alternate  rows  of  windows  in  the  spire.  It  will  then  be  quite  rich  enough  to  accord 
with  the  severity  of  the  tower  and  church." 

March  6,  1867,  Mr.  Upjohn  writes:  —  "Please  take  care  that  you  do  not  get 
your  work  done  under  sub-contract.  The  building  of  spires  should  be  done,  if  possi- 
ble, by  men  who  have  good  knowledge  of  such  work,  who  can  cut  a  stone  well,  and 
lay  it  well  of  their  own  knowledge.  I  speak  thus  that  you  may  avoid  trouble.  The 
building  of  a  spire  is  too  lofty  a  matter  to  be  undertaken  by  any  one  who  is  not  prac- 
tically a  mason  and  stone-cutter." 

March  9,  1867  (minutes)  — The  plan  estimated  on  by  Brown  &  Valentine  shows 
the  spire  as  designed  to  be  120  feet  in  height  from  the  square  of  the  tower. 

May  18,  1867  (minutes).  — *"  The  vestry  is  now  ready  to  contract  for  the  building 
of  the  two  spires,  to  complete  the  chimney  tops,  crosses,  finials,  etc.,  of  the  church 
edifice,  also  to  point  the  work  as  it  progresses." 

September  2,  1867.  — The  Committee  contracted  with  Mr.  Garibaldi  for  the  paint- 
ing and  decoration  of  the  church  edifice.  It  was  decided  that  the  interior  walls 
should  be  finished  in  plaster. 

The  church  was  closed  from  August  iS,  1S67,  until  November  17,  1S67. — From 
Minutes  of  Building  Committee,  letters,  etc. 


104  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

1867. 

At  the  annual  election  on  Easter  Monday,  April  22,  1867,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Shelton  presiding,  Lester  Brace  and  Charles  W.  Evans  were 
elected  wardens,  and  S.  G.  Cornell,  L.  C.  Woodruff,  William  H.  Walker, 
Dr.  Thomas  F.  Rochester,  Asher  P.  Nichols,  John  T.  Lacy,  James 
Sweeney  and  James  W.  Brown,  vestrymen. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  vestry  John  B.  Seymour  was 
appointed  clerk  and  DeWitt  C  Weed  treasurer,  and  Messrs.  Cornell, 
Evans,  Brown  and  Weed  were  chosen  the  building  committee.  They 
reported  that  they  had  a  proposition  from  Mr.  Green  of  Medina  to 
complete  the  church  edifice  for  $17,000.  They  estimated  $2,000  for 
cleaning  and  painting  the  inside  of  the  church  ;  extension  of  the 
organ  loft,  $800  ;  Mr.  Upjohn's  commissions,  $1,000  ;  superintendent's 
salary  $900;  in  all,  $21,700.  The  vestry  levied  twenty  per  cent,  tax 
on  the  valuation  of  the  pews  to  pay  the  parish  expenses  for  the  coming 
year.  The  treasurer  made  his  annual  report,  showing  receipts  for  pew 
taxes  and  other  items  of  $8,109.61,  all  of  which  was  disbursed  for  the 
parish  expenses,  and  $1,685.35  due  to  sundry  persons,  and  $1,710.79 
due  to  the  parish  for  uncollected  pew  taxes.  He  estimated  the  expenses 
for  the  coming  year  at  $7,595,  of  which  $4,500  was  for  the  salary  of  the 
rector  and  assistant  rector. 

Amount   of  pews   sold   $44,875.50  and  $13,487.50  available  ;  total, 

$58,363- 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  October  3, 1 867,  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  presiding, 
a  letter  from  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pitkin  was  read,  stating  that  he  had  accepted 
an  invitation  to  the  rectorship  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Detroit,  and  tender- 
ing his  resignation  as  assistant  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church  in  Buffalo. 
The  resignation  was  accepted,  and  suitable  resolutions  were  adopted 
on  the  occasion.     The  Rev.  Dr.  Pitkin  died  in  Detroit,  in  May,  1887. 

Dr.  Thomas  F.  Rochester  and  James  W.  Brown  resigned  as  mem- 
bers of  the  vestry.  Asher  P.  Nichols  resigned  as  a  member  of  the 
vestry  on  February  3,  1868. 


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History  of  St.  Pau/'s  Church.  105 

1868. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  March  25,  1868,  $1,600  was  appropri- 
ated for  the  expenses  of  the  music  for  the  coming  year,  and  the  thanks 
of  the  vestry  was  voted  to  Messrs.  Hobart  Weed  and  Henry  Bull  for 
the  efficient  and  most  acceptable  manner  in  which  they  had  conducted 
the  music  during  the  past  year,  and  the  hope  was  expressed  that  they 
enter  upon  the  next  year  with  the  full  determination  of  making  the 
reputation  of  St.  Paul's  Church  choir  the  first  in  the  diocese. 

At  the  annual  meeting  on  Easter  Monday,  April  13,  1868,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Shelton  presiding,  Lester  Brace  and  Charles  W.  Evans  were 
elected  wardens,  and  L.  C.  Woodruff,  William  H.  Walker.  S.  G. 
Cornell,  John  T.  Lacy,  James  Sweeney,  George  S.  Hazard,  John 
Pease  and  Henry  C.  Squire,  vestrymen. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  vestry  on  April  17th,  John  B. 
Seymour  was  appointed  clerk,  and  DeWitt  C.  Weed  treasurer.  The 
vestry  levied  a  tax  of  twenty  per  cent,  on  the  valuation  of  the  pews 
for  the  ensuing  year.  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  stated  that  he  had  made  an 
arrangement  with  the  Rev.  J.  K.  Stone,  president  of  Kenyon  College, 
Ohio,  to  act  as  his  assistant  from  June  1st  to  September  1,  1868.  He 
acted  as  such  only  for  a  short  time. 

The  treasurer  made  his  annual  report,  showing  the  receipts  and  dis- 
bursements to  have  been  $9,234.31. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  July  31,  1868,  it  was  resolved  that  the 
selection  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  of  the  Rev.  Percy  Brown  as  his 
assistant  be  approved  of,  and  that  the  sum  of  $2,500  be  placed  at  his 
disposal  for  the  payment  of  the  salary  of  his  assistant. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  vestry  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton 
stated  that  he  had  received  a  letter  from  the  Rev.  Percy  Brown  stating 
his  inability  to  accept  the  position  of  assistant  minister. 

The  vestry  presented  to  Mrs.  Shelton  the  old  Bible  heretofore 
used  in  the  church  services.  The  treasurer  was  authorized  to  pay  for 
the  new  books  purchased  for  the  chancel. 


At  the  annual  election  on  baster  Monday,  March  29,  1609,  Kev. 
.  Shelton  presiding,  Lester  Brace  and  Charles  W.  Evans  were 
cted  wardens,  and  L.  C.  Woodruff,  S.  G.  Cornell,  William  H. 
.lker,  James  Sweeney,  A.  Porter  Thompson,  John  T.  Lacy,  John 
ise  and  George  S.  Hazard,  vestrymen. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  vestry  on  April  2,  1869,  John  B. 
rmour  was  appointed  clerk,  and  DeWitt  C.  Weed  treasurer. 
On  April  2,  1869,  the  vestry  levied  a  tax  of  twenty  per  cent,  on  the 
uation  of  the  pews  for  the  parish  expenses  for  the  coming  year. 
The  treasurer  reported  that  the  receipts  for  parish  purposes  were 
959.40  for  the  past  year,  and  that  the  uncollected  pew  taxes  and 
ts  were  $2,340.63,  and  that  the  estimated  expenses  of  the  parish  for 
ensuing  year  were  $8,010.88,  including  $2,000  salary  to  the  rector 
1  $2,000  to  his  assistant. 

The  treasurer  reported  subscriptions  and  other  receipts  for  the 
lding  fund  to  be  $17,742.07,  and  the  disbursements  $17,519.59,  of 
ich  $2,826.65  was  for  the  chancel  improvements  ;  decorating  the 
ide  walls  of  the  church,  $2,494  ;  extending  the  organ  gallery, 
068.09  >  new  carpets,  $1,051.10. 

The  vestry  approved  of  the  selection  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  of 
Rev.  Charles  L.  Hutchins  as  his  assistant,  and  appropriated  $3,000 
be  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  rector  to  pay  the  salary  of  the 
istant,  and  the  treasurer  was  authorized  to  pay  the  expenses  of  the 
loval  of  Mr.  Hutchins  and  family  to  Buffalo. 


187O. 


At  the  annual  election  on  Easter  Monday,  April  18,  1870,  the  Rev. 
Shelton  presiding,  Charles  W.  Evans  was  elected  senior  warden, 
Samuel  G.  Cornell  junior  warden,  and  L.  C.  Woodruff,  William 


ST.    PAUL'S     FROM     SOUTH     DIVISION     STREET. 

Just  before  the  completion  of  the  main  spire  by  the  addition  of  the  finial  and  cross. 

The  cross  was  put  in  place  August  6,  1870.     (See  pages  108,  314  to  318.) 


Enlarged  from  a  stereoscopic  photograph 
taken  by  C.  L.  Pond. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  107 

H.  Walker,  A.  Porter  Thompson,  James  Sweeney,  Cyrus  Clarke,  John  T. 
Lacy,  John  Pease  and  John  L.  Kimberly,  Jr.,  vestrymen. 

Charles  W.  Evans  was  elected  senior  warden  in  place  of  Lester 
Brace,  on  account  of  Mr.  Brace's  advanced  age  and  infirm  health.  Mr. 
Brace  died  the  next  year,  aged  eighty-one. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  vestry  on  April  25th,  John  B.  Sey- 
mour was  appointed  clerk,  and  DeWitt  C.  Weed  treasurer  ;  Charles  W. 
Evans,  DeWitt  C.  Weed,  and  Cyrus  Clarke  were  appointed  the  building 
committte.* 

The  vestry  levied  a  tax  of  twenty  per  cent,  on  the  valuation  of  the 
pews  to  pay  the  parish  expenses  for  the  coming  year.  The  vestry  desig- 
nated Hobart  Weed,  Claude  Hamilton,  Frederick  Barton,  Henry  Bull 
and  James  Pease  to  aid  in  assigning  seats  in  church  to  strangers. 

The  treasurer  reported  the  receipts  and  disbursements  for  parish 
expenses  were  $8,819.63,  and  that  $1,959.78  was  due  for  pew  taxes  and 
rents,  of  which  $900  had  been  due  for  some  years. 

Loring  Peirce,  formerly  the  sexton  of  the  parish,  and  for  many 
years  the  conductor  of  the  funerals  of  the  parishioners,  died  May  25, 
1870.  His  respectful  sympathy  for  surviving  friends,  and  particularly 
with  young  mothers  bereaved  of  their  infant  children,  was  very  grate- 
ful. He  attended  to  the  burial  of  the  dead  for  more  than  forty  years, 
and  was  a  much  respected  citizen.f 


*  One  of  the  Buffalo  daily  papers  speaks  as  follows  of  the  work  on  the  church 
edifice  at  this  time  : 

"  The  general  superintendence  of  the  work  now  going  on  is  in  the  hands 
of  Edwin  Hurlbert  ;  the  cutting  and  laying  of  the  stone  is  in  charge  of  William  S. 
Cass,  and  John  Locke  has  the  supervision  of  the  mason  work.  Messrs.  Hurlbert 
and  Locke  are  well  known  in  this  city.  Mr.  Cass  has  had  great  experience  in  English 
cathedrals  and  churches,  superintending  in  1835  the  rehanging  of  Big  Tom,  of  Lin- 
coln ;  and  he  has  built  Gothic  stone  churches  at  Haynton  and  at  Easton,  in  Lincoln- 
shire. .  .  .  The  building  of  the  church  has  not  been  done  by  contract,  but  by 
day  labor." 

f  In  the  remarks  made  by  Dr.  Shelton  at  the  funeral  of  Loring  Peirce,  he  said  : 
"During  nearly  half  a  century  he  has  continued  his  useful  offices  to  the 


108  History  of  St.  Pau/'s  ChitrcJi. 

On  June  5,  1870,  at  the  Whitsuntide  Sunday  School  festival,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Hutchins  stated  that  the  children  of  the  Sunday  School  had 
contributed  $100  for  a  cross  to  be  placed  on  the  spire  of  the  church, 
when  completed. 

The  Buffalo  Express,  of  August  1,  1870,  has  the  following  in  regard 
to  St.  Paul's  spire  : 

"  All  that  now  remains  to  complete  the  spire  of  St.  Paul's  Cathedral, 
is  one  more  stone  —  the  finial  — and  the  cross  which  is  to  surmount 
it  ;  then  the  scaffolding  will  be  removed,  unveiling  one  of  the  most 
elegant  models  of  architecture  to  be  found  in  this  or  any  other 
country.  Saturday  we  again  made  the  toilsome  ascent,  and  from  the 
topmost  platform  enjoyed  a  most  delightful  bird's-eye  view  of  the  city, 
the  surrounding  country,  the  lake  and  Niagara  River.  The  few  who 
are,  or  have  been  permitted  to  make  the  ascent,  may  consider  themselves 
peculiarly  fortunate,  as  probably  no  other  occasion  will  ever  present 
itself  where  the  city  may  be  viewed  from  so  elevated  a  point.  When  the 
scaffolding  is  removed  a  fine  observation  may  be  made  from  the  top- 
most windows,  but  away  to  a  great  height  above  them  tapers  the  slender 

dead.  .  .  .  Early  and  late,  untiringly,  and  with  no  regard  to  his  own  ease  or 
comfort.  ...  In  the  beginning  of  the  town  the  burying  place  was  where  the 
center  of  the  city  now  is.  This  ground  —  which  is  now  a  vacant  square  —  was  filled 
with  the  graves  of  the  first  settlers  and  early  inhabitants  of  the  village.  But  in  1832 
there  was  a  demand  made  for  a  burial  place  more  remote,  and  the  lot  on  Delaware 
Street  was  selected.  This,  it  soon  became  manifest,  was  also  too  near  the  city. 
Then  a  lot  farther  out  was  selected  as  a  general  burying  place  ;  then  another  adjoin- 
ing was  chosen,  and  lastly  Forest  Lawn  was  adopted  as  the  burying  place  of  all 
Protestants.  There  is  not  a  foot  of  either  of  these  grounds  with  which  he  has  not 
been  familiar.  In  one  or  another  of  them  he  has  laid  the  bodies  of  those  who  laid 
the  foundation  of  our  city.  ...  In  his  early  life  he  was  the  only  person  here 
engaged  in  this  sad  duty  of  caring  for  the  dead.  ...  In  all  the  periods  of  the 
visitations  of  that  dreadful  scourge,  the  cholera,  he  was  ever  in  the  midst  of  it ;  . 
by  night  and  by  day  he  was  ever  in  the  thickest  of  the  pestilence,  as  well  with  the 
poor  and  defenseless  as  with  the  rich  ;  all  alike  received  his  care  and  attention."     . 


GENERAL     VIEW     OF     BUFFALO     IN     1870. 
Looking  north  from  the  scaffolding  on  the  main  spire  of  St.  Paul's.     (See  page 


Enlarged  from  a  stereoscopic  photograph 
taken  by  C.  L.  Pond. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  109 

spire,  its  smooth  octagonal  surface  giving  neither  foot-hold  nor  finger- 
hold to  the  adventurous.  From  the  ground  level  to  the  top  of  the  finial 
will  be  exactly  255  feet ;  the  copper  cross  which  will  terminate  the  spire 
is  to  be  3  feet  8  inches,  making  the  entire  height  258  feet  8  inches.  The 
builder  of  the  celebrated  spire  of  Trinity  Church,  New  York,  while  on  a 
recent  visit  to  this  city,  asserted  that  its  height  is  no  greater  than  that 
of  St.  Paul's,  the  former  structure  not  having  been  carried  up  to  the  full 
height  called  for  by  the  plans.  If  this  be  as  affirmed,  our  spire  is  second 
only  in  the  United  States  to  that  of  the  cathedral  in  St.  Louis." 

The  Buffalo  Commercial  of  Monday,  August  8,  1870,  has  the  follow- 
ing account  of  the  final  placing  of  the  cross  on  the  finished  spire  : 

"  The  work  upon  the  spire  of  St.  Paul's  Cathedral,  so  long  in  pro- 
gress, was  completed  on  Saturday  afternoon,  August  6th,  and  the  tower 
now  stands  'a  thing  of  beauty.'  The  gilded  cross  by  which  the  stone 
finial  is  surmounted  is  of  copper,  thrice  gilt,  3  feet  8  inches  by  2  feet  5 
inches,  and  was  made  by  Henry  Goldsmith  of  Grand  Street,  New  York, 
at  a  cost  to  the  church  of  $145.  The  cross  was  set  in  its  place  by  the 
Rev.  Charles  L.  Hutchins,  assistant  minister  of  St.  Paul's  '  in  the  Name 
of  the  Ever-Blessed  Trinity  —  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost.' 

"  The  work  of  removing  the  scaffolding  has  already  been  com- 
menced, and  within  a  short  time  the  magnificent  spire  will  stand  out, 
unencumbered,  in  all  its  beautiful  proportions.  Work  upon  the  smaller 
spire  at  the  easterly  extremity  of  the  church  will  not,  we  understand, 
be  proceeded  with  at  this  time." 

The  sermon  preached  by  Dr.  Shelton  on  Sunday,  August  7,  1870, 
was  replete  with  historical  data.  The  following  extracts  from  it  give 
a  short  resume  of  the  building  of  the  church:  "A  twenty-years' 
labor  has  been  finished,  and  I  may  be  permitted  to  congratulate  you, 
my  friends,  and  parishioners,  upon  the  essential  completion  of  our 
grand  and  graceful  church.  The  cross,  which  surmounts  the  very 
elegant  spire,  has  at  length  been  placed  in  its  position,  surmounting 


I  io  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

the  structure    of   which    it    is  its  last   ornament Who 

shall  recount  the  efforts  which  have  been  put  forth  to  bring  this  church 
to  its  present  condition?  It  was  begun  by  the  young  men  of  the  con- 
gregation in  1847,  who  subscribed  a  small  sum  each.  This  sum  was 
but  an  earnest  of  a  better  day,  and,  small  as  it  was,  it  had  the  effect  of 
calling  the  attention  of  the  parish  to  the  subject,  and  in  1849  a  resolve 
was  made  to  remove  the  time-honored  and  long-used  edifice  and  com- 
mence another.  The  effort  then  made  was  to  obtain  some  $50,000, 
being  assured  by  the  architect  that  that  sum  would  complete  the 
edifice.  It  did  not  accomplish  what  had  been  proposed.  Accord- 
ingly, in  1851,  a  new  subscription  was  begun.  This  also  did  not 
answer  the  full  demand,  and  again  in  1854  another  effort  was  made. 
This  also  was  not  equal  to  the  requirement.  Again  in  1866,  and  in 
1867,  and  lastly  in  1869,  a  subscription  was  presented,  and  I  may  add, 
all  these  were  promptly  and   readily  responded  to.     Six  times  it  has 

been  my  duty  to  make  the  same  claim The  full  amount 

of  all  that  has  been  paid  is,  as  near  as  I  can  estimate,  $156,000,  and  be- 
yond this  there  has  been  made  a  loan  of  $5,000.     So  that  the  total 

cost  has  been  about  $161,000 Some  gifts  as  testimonials 

of  good  will  have  been  given,  but  the  great  mass  of  this  large  sum  has 
been  given  by  those  who  now  occupy  the  seats  before  me,  or  by  those 
who  have  laid  aside  their  mortal  cares,  and    have  been   gathered  to 

their  fathers The  effort  which  has  been  made  by  this 

congregation,  extending  as  it  has  over  a  period  of  twenty-three  years, 
has  been  a  great  if  not  a  gigantic  one.  It  has  called  perpetually  for 
exertion,  self-denial,  and  continued  open-handed  and  open-hearted 
liberality."  * 

1 87I. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  February  6,  1871,  the  following  preamble 
and  resolutions  were  adopted  :  Whereas,  the  Hon.  Henry  Shelton 
Sanford  and  his  wife  have  presented  to  the  parish,  through  the  rector, 

*  See  appendix  for  subscription  lists. 


ST.    PAUL'S     FROM     MAIN     STREET.    IN     1870. 

After  the  completion  of  the  main  spire,  August  6,  1870.  and  before  the  work  upon  the  smaller 

spire  had  been  begun.     (See  pages  109,  314  to  318.) 


From  a  photograph  by  C.  W.  Bigden. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  i  1 1 

a  most  beautiful  and  highly  burnished  brass  eagle  lectern,  it  is  resolved 
that  the  thanks  of  the  vestry  and  parish  be  tendered  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sanford  for  their  valuable  gift.* 

At  the  annual  election  on  Easter  Monday,  April  10,  187 1,  Rev. 
Dr.  Shelton  presiding,  Charles  W.  Evans  and  L.  C.  Woodruff  were 
elected  wardens,  and  Cyrus  Clarke,  John  T.  Lacy,  Howard  H.  Baker, 
Mark  B.  Moore,  George  Beals,  George  H.  Smith,  Henry  T.  Gillett 
and  Dr.  C.  C.  Wyckoff,  vestrymen. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  vestry  on  April  17,  187 1,  John  B. 
Seymour  was  appointed  clerk,  and  George  Beals  treasurer. 

Mr.  Weed  declined  a  reelection  as  treasurer,  and  the  vestry,  in 
accepting  his  resignation,  tendered  him  their  thanks  for  his  faithful 
services  and  for  the  ability  with  which  he  had  managed  the  finances. 
The  vestry  levied  a  tax  of  twenty  per  cent,  on  the  pews  to  pay  the 
parish  expenses  for  the  ensuing  year. 

The  treasurer  reported  that  the  parish  receipts  for  the  past  year 
were  $10,722.67,  which  included  $1,000  contributed  by  nine  members 
of  the  congregation  to  aid  in  paying  the  parish  expenses. 

On  May  30th  L.  C.  Woodruff  and  Charles  W.  Evans  were  appointed 
a  building  committee  to  complete  the  small  tower  on  Church  Street, 
also  the  stone  crosses,  finials,  etc.f 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  September  21,  187 1,  George  Beals 
resigned  as  treasurer,  and  James  W.  Sanford  was  chosen  in  his  place. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  December  n,  1871,  the  rector  sub- 
mitted the  following  memorial  on  the  occasion  of  the  death  of  Lester 
Brace,  for  many  years  one  of  the  vestry.  "  He  was  eighty-one  years  of 
age,  and  had  lived  in  the  parish  longer  than  any  male  member  of  it, 
was  confirmed  at  Black  Rock  by  Bishop  Hobart  in  1828,  and  had  been 
a  consistent  Christian  from  that  time.     He  was  a  warden  of  the  parish 


*  This  lectern  was  destroyed  at  the  burning  of  the  church,  May  10,  18SS. 

fThe  finial  of  this  tower  was  placed  in  position  October  2,  1871,  and  the  numer- 
ous stone  crosses,  etc.,  were  finished  in  May,  1S73,  thus  practically  completing  the 
edifice. 


112  History  of  St.  Paid 's  Church. 

for  fifteen  years,  and  the  correctness  of  his  life  ever  commanded  the 
approval  of  the  congregation.  He  was  in  his  public  life  honest  and 
just ;  in  his  family,  affectionate,  careful  and  prudent;  in  his  daily  walks, 
an  attentive  and  zealous  reader  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  devotional 
books.  He  has  left  an  example  of  such  Christian  conduct  as  may  well 
be  imitated.  His  last  years  were  filled  with  grief  for  the  loss  of  his 
entire  family, —  his  excellent  wife  and  children,  within  a  short  period 
of  each  other,  died,  and  left  him  alone,  under  God,  to  the  care  of  his 
affectionate  grandchildren.  It  is  well  to  be  recorded  of  him  that  he 
bore  his  losses  with  a  Christian  spirit,  and  looked  anxiously  forward 
to  his  release  from  a  world  of  sorrow  to  one  of  everlasting  happiness." 

The  vestry  adopted  the  memorial,  and  bore  testimony  of  his  merits 
as  a  man  and  his  faith  as  a  Christian. 

Mrs.  Sevilla  Hayden  was  the  daughter  of  Lester  Brace,  and  died  in 
July,  1870  ;  she  was  one  of  the  most  efficient  parishioners  of  St.  Paul's, 
and  devoted  to  the  interests  of  the  parish.  She  was  the  widow  of  the 
late  Albert  Hayden,  who  died  on  the  overland  route  to  California 
in  1849. 

1872. 

At  the  annual  election  on  Easter  Monday,  April  r,  1872,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Shelton  presiding,  Charles  W.  Evans  and  William  H.  Walker  were 
elected  wardens,  and  L.  C.  Woodruff,  S.  G.  Cornell,  John  Pease,  Cyrus 
Clarke,  Howard  H.  Baker,  George  S.  Hazard,  George  F.  Lee  and 
George  Beals,  vestrymen. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  vestry  on  April  10th,  John  B.  Sey- 
mour was  appointed  clerk,  and  James  W.  Sanford  treasurer.  The 
vestry  levied  a  tax  of  twenty  per  cent,  on  the  valuation  of  the  pews,  to 
pay  the  parish  expenses  for  the  coming  year. 

The  clerk  was  directed  to  execute  a  note  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton 
for  $1,850,  with  interest  from  April  1st,  for  the  arrears  of  salary  due 
him  as  rector. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  113 

The  Rev.  Charles  L.  Hutchins  having  resigned  as  the  assistant  rec- 
tor of  the  parish,  the  resignation  taking  effect  on  April  1st,  and  having 
expressed  his  best  wishes  for  the  individual  good  and  prosperity  of  the 
parish,  the  vestry  reciprocated  his  kind  words,  and  wished  him  abund- 
ant success  in  any  field  of  labor  to  which  he  might  be  called.  The  sum 
of  $25  was  appropriated  to  pay  the  traveling  expenses  of  the  Rev. 
Charles  S.  Hale  to  Buffalo,  as  the  assistant  minister  of  the  parish. 

The  treasurer  made  his  annual  report,  showing  $7,960.04  received 
for  pew  taxes  and  rents,  and  $7,553.03  paid  for  parish  expenses,  and 
$1,850  due  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  ;  unpaid  pew  rents  and  taxes 
$1,385.71.  Estimated  expenses  for  the  coming  year  $7,145,  including 
$2,000  for  the  rector's  salary  and  $1,500  for  the  assistant  rector. 

It  was  understood  that  the  assistant  rector,  who  was  unmarried, 
should  board  with  the  rector. 

The  rectory  was  mortgaged  for  $7,500  to  the  Erie  County  Savings 
Bank,  and  $1, 161.70  was  collected  in  church  on  Easter  Sunday,  March 
31st,  to  pay  other  debts  due  by  the  parish.  Said  debts  being  in  addi- 
tion to  the  $1,850  due  to  the  rector. 

Eliza,  wife  of  John  Pease,  died  in  October,  1872,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
four.  She  was  the  eldest  daughter  of  the  late  James  L.  Barton,  and 
Sarah  Maria  Barton,  his  wife.  Mrs.  Pease  was  one  of  the  representative 
women  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  In  the  obituary  notice  of  her  it  is  stated 
that  "  for  nearly  forty  years  she  was  a  devoted  member  of  the  parish, 
and  during  all  that  time  none  were  more  prominent  or  active  in  good 
works  as  well  inside  the  church  as  out  of  it.  In  every  walk  of  life 
she  was  an  excellent  and  exemplary  woman.  In  her  family,  in  the 
church,  in  the  Sunday  School  and  in  society,  she  was  always  active, 
useful  and  influential  for  good  ;  she  worked  without  ostentation,  and 
seemed  to  be  content  with  the  consciousness  of  doing  her  duty."  In 
the  obituary  notice  of  Mrs.  Sarah  Maria  Barton,  the  mother  of  Mrs. 
Pease,  who  died  in  December,  185 1,  at  the  age  of  fifty-three,  it  was 
stated  that  "she  had  been  a  most  valued  and  useful  member  of  the 
church  for  more  than  twenty-five  years,  and  a  resident  of  Black  Rock 


114  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

and  Buffalo  for  more  than  thirty-one  years.  Possessed  of  untiring 
industry  and  systematic  frugality,  which  never  descended  into  illiber- 
ality,  her  hand  and  heart  were  always  open  to  the  call  of  the  necessi- 
tous, and  her  house  was  the  abode  of  hospitality  and  kindness.  She 
was  the  mother  of  eleven  children,  seven  of  whom  survived  her." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  November  13,  1872,  Hobart  Weed, 
from  the  music  committee,  reported  that  the  organ,  which  had  been  in 
use  for  twenty-one  years,  was  in  bad  condition  and  a  new  one  was 
required.  The  rector  was  authorized  to  appoint  a  committee  to  raise 
sufficient  funds  by  subscription,  and  by  the  sale  of  the  old  organ,  to 
purchase  a  new  one  in  place  of  the  same. 

The  vestry  resolved  that  the  salary  of  the  rector  be  increased  to 
$3,500,  out  of  which  he  was  to  pay  the  salary  of  the  assistant  minister. 

■873- 

At  the  annual  election  on  Easter  Monday,  April  14,  1873,  Rev. 
Dr.  Shelton  presiding,  Charles  W.  Evans  and  S.  G.  Cornell  were 
elected  wardens,  and  L.  C.  Woodruff,  Cyrus  Clarke,  William  H. 
Walker,  George  S.  Hazard,  John  Pease,  George  F.  Lee,  Howard  H. 
Baker  and  George  Beals,  vestrymen. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  vestry  on  April  21st,  John  B.  Sey- 
mour was  appointed  clerk,  and  James  W.  Sanford  treasurer.  The 
vestry  levied  a  tax  of  twenty  per  cent,  on  the  valuation  of  the  pews  to 
pay  the  parish  expenses  for  the  ensuing  year. 

The  vestry  returned  their  thanks  to  Hobart  Weed  and  Dr.  Daboll  for 
their  services  on  the  music  committee,  and  $1,700  was  appropriated  to 
pay  for  the  music  for  the  coming  year.  William  H.  Walker  and  Howard 
H.  Baker,  from  the  organ  committee,  reported  that  they  had  obtained 
subscriptions  from  forty-five  members  of  the  congregation  amounting  to 
$6,555,  and  that  a  contract  had  been  made  with  E.  and  G.  G.  Hook  & 
Hastings  of  Boston,  Mass.,  for  a  new  organ,  to  cost  $7,500,  they  to  take 


THE     REVEREND     WILLIAM     SHELTOX,    D.    D..  in  his  seventy-second  year. 

Born.  September  it,  1798  ;    Rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  September  11.  1829.  to 

January  11,  1881  ;    Honorary  Rector  until  his  death.  October  11,  1883. 


From  a  photograph  taken  by 
W.  J.  Kaker  early  in  1870. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  115 

the  old  organ  at  $1,000,  as  part  pay,  the  new  organ  to  be  in  place  by 
September  1,  1873.  The  vestry  returned  thanks  to  Rodney  Kendrick 
for  the  very  perfect  and  accurate  ground  plan  of  the  church,  presented 
by  him. 

The  treasurer  made  his  annual  report,  showing  the  receipts  and 
disbursements  to  have  been  $8,759.69  for  the  past  year,  $982  due  to 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  on  last  year's  salary,  and  $2,828.50  due  for 
pew  rents  and  taxes.  Estimated  expenses  for  the  coming  year  $7,600. 
The  vestry  returned  thanks  to  James  W.  Sanford  for  the  able  and  satis- 
factory manner  in  which  he  conducted  the  arduous  duties  of  treasurer 
of  the  parish. 

September  nth,  Charles  W.  Evans,  from  the  committee  appointed  in 
187 1  to  complete  the  small  tower  on  Church  Street,  also  the  stone 
crosses,  finials,  etc.,  reported  that  a  contract  was  made  with  William 
S.  Cass  to  complete  the  same  for  $1,179,  a"d  that  the  work  had  been 
completed,  in  May,  1873,  and  had  been  paid  for  by  thirteen  members 
of  the  congregation. 

The  senior  warden  reported  that  he  had  contracted  to  have  the 
church  edifice  thoroughly  cleaned  by  August  25,  1873,  f°r  the  sum  of 
$350,  to  be  paid  for  by  subscriptions. 

In  1873,  Ralph  Williams  died  very  suddenly.  He  was  one  of  the 
oldest  colored  citizens  of  Buffalo,  and  had  been  the  faithful  and 
efficient  sexton  of  St  Paul's  for  twenty  years.  He  was  attending  to 
his  duties  at  the  church  when  seized  with  sudden  illness,  and  died  in 
the  carriage  in  which  he  was  being  taken  to  his  home. 

1874. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  February  14,  1874,  resolutions  were 
adopted  on  the  occasion  of  the  death  of  George  F.  Lee,  expressing 
the  sorrow  of  the  vestry  at  the  death  of  their  friend  and  associate,  and 
their  desire  to  place  on  record  their  grateful  remembrance  of  his  faith- 
ful and  efficient  services  as  a  member  of  the  vestry. 


116  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

At  the  annual  election  on  Easter  Monday,  April  13,  1874,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Shelton  presiding,  Charles  W.  Evans  and  William  H.  Walker 
were  elected  wardens,  and  L.  C.  Woodruff,  George  S.  Hazard,  Mark  B. 
Moore,  Howard  H.  Baker,  George  Beals,  DeWitt  C.  Weed  and  Cyrus 
Clarke,  vestrymen. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  vestry  John  B.  Seymour  was 
appointed  clerk,  and  James  W.  Sanford  treasurer. 

The  vestry  levied  a  tax  of  twenty  per  cent,  on  the  valuation  of  the 
pews,  to  pay  the  parish  expenses  for  the  coming  year,  and  also  resolved 
that  the  salary  of  the  rector  be  $4,000  per  annum,  and  that  he  pay  the 
assistant  minister  out  of  the  said  sum.  The  sum  of  $1,800  was  appro- 
priated to  pay  for  the  church  music  for  the  coming  year. 

The  treasurer  reported  that  George  Beals  had  donated  the  coal  bill 
due  by  the  parish  to  him  since  February  20,  1871,  amounting  to  $208. 
The  treasurer  also  reported  that  $1,850  was  due  to  the  rector  for  his 
salary  to  Easter,  187 1,  and  $1,077.33  f°r  the  same  at  Easter,  1874,  and 
that  $2,790.98  was  due  to  the  parish  for  rents  and  taxes  on  the  pews. 

On  March  8,  1874,  Millard  Fillmore,  ex-President  of  the  United 
States,  died  at  his  residence  on  Niagara  Square,  Buffalo,  aged  74  years. 

On  March  12th  the  body  was  removed  from  the  residence  to 
St.  Paul's  Church,  where,  in  the  vestibule  of  the  church,  which  was 
heavily  draped  with  mourning,  the  remains  lay  in  state  from  10  A.  M. 
until  1  P.  M.  A  detachment  of  Company  "  D,"  Buffalo  City  Guard, 
acted  as  a  guard  of  honor  ;  they  were  relieved  later  by  a  detachment 
of  the  1st  U.  S.  Infantry. 

The  doors  were  thrown  open  to  the  public,  and  a  continuous  stream 
of  people,  entering  by  the  Erie-street  entrance  and  passing  out  on 
Pearl  Street,  viewed  the  body.  At  one  o'clock  the  bells  of  St.  Paul's 
rang  out  a  solemn  funeral  peal,  and  shortly  after  two  o'clock  the 
funeral  services  were  begun,  the  Rev.  William  Shelton,  D.  D.,  deliver- 
ing the  funeral  sermon.  The  church  was  crowded  to  its  utmost 
capacity,  and  the  streets  about  the  church  were  thronged  by  many 
thousands  of  people,  who  were  unable  to  obtain  admission. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  117 

The  funeral  was  one  of  the  most  solemn  and  impressive  ever  held 
in  the  church. 

1875 

At  the  annual  election,  March  29,  1S75,  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  presiding, 
Charles  W.  Evans  and  William  H.  Walker  were  elected  wardens,  and 
L.  C.  Woodruff,  Cyrus  Clarke,  John  Pease,  George  Beals,  M.  B.  Moore, 
H.  H.  Baker,  George  S.  Hazard  and  James  Sweeney,  vestrymen.* 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  John  B.  Seymour  was  appointed  clerk,  and 
James  W.  Sanford  treasurer.  April  23,  1875,  the  vestry  authorized  St. 
Paul's  Guildf  to  purchase  the  lot  on  Spruce  Street,  near  Genesee  Street, 
on  which  to  erect  the  German  mission  church  and  school,  the  expendi- 
ture not  to  exceed  $2,000.  June  4,  1875,  it  was  reported  to  the  vestry 
that  the  lot  on  Spruce  Street  had  been  purchased  for  $1,800,  $400  paid 
in  cash,  and  the  bond  and  mortgage  of  St.  Paul's  Church  given  for 
$1,400,  and  the  building  for  the  German  mission  thereon  had  been 
contracted  for  at  $1,500.  It  was  formally  opened  for  divine  worship 
by  the  bishop  on  Sunday,  August  1,  1875. 

September  4,  1875,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  confer  with  Mr. 
Kip  and  request  him  to  pay  certain  funds  held  by  him  for  a  former 
mission  to  the  present  German  mission  church. 

*At  Easter,  1875,  the  Rev.  Charles  S.  Hale  resigned  as  assistant  minister  of  St. 
Paul's,  and  became  the  first  rector  of  the  new  church  of  St.  Mary's-on-the-Hill,  on  the 
corner  of  Prospect  Avenue  and  Vermont  Street,  which  was  opened  for  the  first  time 
for  divine  service  on  Easter  Sunday  afternoon,  March  28,  1875.  The  church  was 
built  mainly  through  the  efforts  and  generosity  of  Mr.  De  Witt  C.  Weed,  then  one  of 
the  vestry  of  St.  Paul's.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Hale  was  married  to  Mrs.  Louisa  Weed 
Stevens,  only  sister  of  Mr.  Weed,  in  July,  1875.  St.  Paul's  was  without  a  regular 
assistant  until  November,  1875,  when  the  Rev.  S.  Humphreys  Gurteen  accepted  that 
position.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Hobart  of  Geneva  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hughes  of  New  York 
had  supplied  the  pulpit  and  assisted  Dr.  Shelton  through  the  summer  months,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Hughes  becoming  rector  of  St.  John's  Church,  Buffalo,  in  November,  1875. 

Mr.  Gurteen  had  been  assistant  minister  at  Trinity  Church.  Geneva,  N.  V.  He 
was  ordained  priest  by  Bishop  Coxe  in  St.  Paul's  Church,  Buffalo,  in  December,  1875. 

+  For  historical  sketch  of  St.  Paul's  Guild  see  appendix. 


ii8  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

December  13,  1875,  the  treasurer  of  the  organ  fund  reported  sub- 
scriptions from  forty-nine  persons,  amounting  to  $7,125,  to  purchase 
the  new  organ  for  the  church  edifice. 

August  30,  1875,  John  S.  Ganson  died  in  the  73d  year  of  his  age. 
Coming  from  Batavia  to  Buffalo  in  1850,  he  was  well  known  as  a  banker, 
being  president  and  principal  stockholder  of  the  New  York  and  Erie 
Bank  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  a  prominent  member  of 
St.  Paul's  parish,  and  a  vestryman  from  1854  to  1859  and  again  in  1861 
and  1S62.  He  was  the  father  of  Mrs.  James  Sweeney  and  of  Mrs. 
William  B.  Depew. 

1876. 

February  9,  1876,  the  vestry  was  called  to  devise  ways  and  means 
to  pay  off  the  debt  incurred  in  refitting  the  Sunday-School  room  in  the 
basement  of  the  church,  which  had  been  done  under  the  supervision 
of  the  assistant  minister,  the  Rev.  S.  H.  Gurteen.  The  subject  was, 
after  some  discussion,  referred  to  the  wardens.  February  17,  1876,  the 
subject  was  again  discussed  but  no  action  was  taken.  March  8,  1876, 
it  was  stated  that  a  fund  had  been  raised  some  time  ago  for  the  pur- 
pose of  erecting  a  Sunday  School  building,  which  fund  was  deposited 
in  the  Erie  County  Savings  Bank  to  the  credit  of  the  wardens.  It  was 
therefore  resolved  that  the  vestry  borrow  $600  of  the  said  funds,  to  be 
repaid  in  annual  installments  of  $50  each,  with  annual  interest  thereon, 
to  be  repaid  to  the  wardens  from  the  receipts  from  the  receiving  vault 
for  the  dead,  in  the  basement  of  the  church,  which  receipts  had  been 
heretofore  applied  for  Sunday  School  purposes. 

Elizabeth  Staats  Seymour  died  in  March,  1876,  aged  sixty  years. 
She  was  married  in  1840  to  Horatio  Seymour,  Jr.,  who  died  in  1872. 
From  1869  to  1876  she  lost,  in  succession,  her  mother,  her  two  sons, 
and  her  husband.  Her  uncle  Jeremiah  Staats,  the  last  of  the  family, 
never  married,  and  died  May  4,  1887,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety- 
one.  In  her  obituary  notice,  it  is  stated  that  Mrs.  Seymour  was  a  born 
philanthropist,  and  a  womanly  woman   always.     She  courted    neither 


ST.    PAUL'S     AND     GENERAL     VIEW    OF     THE     CITY. 

Looking  southeast  from  the  tower  of  the  unfinished  City  Hall  in  1875.     St.  John's  Church  and 
Washington  Street  Baptist  Church  in  distance. 


Enlarged  from  a  stereoscopic  photograph 
taken  by  C.  L.  Pond. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  119 

luxury  nor  repose  ;  rest  was  something  impossible  to  her  while  she  felt 
that  her  assistance  was  needed,  and  she  was  always  ready  to  attend  to 
her  parish  duties.  She  had  been  a  parishioner  of  St.  Paul's  for  forty 
years.  Her  funeral  was  largely  attended  from  the  church.  She 
bequeathed  $500  to  the  parish  for  a  memorial  window  in  the  Sunday- 
School  building. 

April  10,  1876,  the  vestry  accepted  the  proposition  of  St.  Paul's 
Church  Guild  to  take  charge  of  the  church  edifice,  and  to  attend  to 
the  duties  of  the  sexton,  in  keeping  the  same  in  proper  order. 

At  the  annual  meeting  April  17,  1876,  the  same  wardens  were 
elected,  and  L.  C.  Woodruff,  Cyrus  Clarke,  John  Pease,  M.  B.  Moore, 
G.  S.  Hazard,  H.  H.  Baker,  D.  C.  Godwin  and  A.  R.  Davidson,  vestry- 
men, John  B.  Seymour  clerk,  and  J.  W.  Sanford  treasurer. 

The  vestry  subsequently  appropriated  $1,800  for  the  music  for  the 
coming  year. 

A  history  of  the  parish  of  St.  Paul's  necessarily  presupposes  more 
or  less  mention  of  the  parishioners,  and,  of  course,  those  most  mentioned 
would  be  those  who  administered  its  temporal  affairs.  It  must  not  be 
supposed,  however,  that  they  alone  gave  tone  to  the  parish  life  or 
alone  guided  its  best  interests.  The  most  excellent  and  good  Christian 
women  of  the  parish  were  the  ones  who  did  the  most,  and  who  really 
gave  tone,  not  only  to  the  parish  life,  but  to  the  social  life  of  the 
parishioners,  and  yet  their  services  and  works  were  rarely  written  in 
the  parish  records ;  but  their  good  works  in  the  Ladies'  Society 
and  particularly  in  the  Sunday  School,  were  of  the  greatest  benefit 
to  the  parish,  and  especially  so  to  the  younger  members.  Their  good 
influences  lasted  from  generation  to  generation.  In  social  life  the 
women  of  the  parish  made  social  intercourse  not  only  a  pleasure,  but 
useful  and  beneficial  to  its  participants.  The  parish  was  conservative 
in  all  church  observances  and  in  daily  life.  The  good  principles  which 
governed  it  were  those  inculcated  by  Dr.  Shelton.  He  taught  all 
the  parishioners,  particularly  the  younger  ones,  that  the  prayer  book, 
next  to  the  Bible,  was  the  best  of  all  books,  that  the  sacraments  were 


120  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

not  to  be  lightly  regarded,  but  faithfully  observed.  He  sought  so  to 
instill  precept  on  precept  as  to  give  life  and  nourishment  to  the  inner 
life,  and  his  sermons  were  mostly  of  that  character  ;  he  was  rarely 
eloquent  in  them,  but  sought  to  instruct  the  people  by  calm  reasoning 
rather  than  by  eloquence.  He  was  so  honest  and  straightforward,  not 
only  in  his  church  life,  but  in  his  daily  walks,  that  his  people  learned 
to  place  full  reliance  on  him,  and  to  be  governed  by  his  good  counsels. 
His  congregation  during  fifty  years  of  his  ministry  in  St.  Paul's  was 
composed  of  all  sorts  and  conditions  of  men,  but  such  was  his  power 
of  adaptation  that  he  reconciled  all  adverse  tendencies,  and,  as  it  were, 
so  cultivated  their  inner  nature  as  to  conduce  not  only  to  their  own 
good  but  to  the  best  interests  of  the  parish.  He  said  in  one  of  his 
sermons  that  a  good  churchman  is  good  in  all  things  ;  that  is,  good 
churchmanship  gives  a  right  judgment  in  all  things.  He  taught  that 
a  neglect  and  disuse  of  religious  duties  would  tend  to  the  decay  of  the 
spiritual  life,  and  an  entire  neglect  and  disuse  end  in  barbarism.  He 
himself  was  a  manly,  straightforward  and  consistent  churchman,  and, 
by  his  conversation  and  attentions  to  the  daily  duties  of  life,  taught 
his  congregation  to  be  the  same.  His  rich  and  full  voice,  so  often 
heard  in  all  the  church  services  and  in  the  reading  of  the  Scripture 
lessons,  will  long  be  remembered. 

December  14,  1876,  the  vestry  adopted  resolutions  relative  to  the 
death  of  DeWitt  C.  Weed,  for  many  years  treasurer  of  the  parish  and 
one  of  the  vestry.  It  was  resolved  that  he  was  always  among  the  fore- 
most in  his  devotion  to  the  interests  of  the  parish,  and  a  constant  and 
large  contributor  to  its  support,  and  that  his  Christian  character,  his 
devout  and  regular  attendance  upon  Divine  worship,  his  unaffected 
piety,  his  probity  and  sterling  worth,  will  always  be  remembered,  and 
his  example  will  remain  a  precious  legacy  to  his  family,  to  his  friends 
and  all  who  knew  him. 

DeWitt  C.  Weed  died  November  16,  1876.  He  was  born  in  Buffalo 
September  16,  1824,  and  was  the  eldest  son  of  the  late  Thaddeus  and 
Louisa  Chapin  Weed.     His  father,  Thaddeus  Weed,  was  an  old  and 


History  of  St.  Pauls  Church.  121 

valued  citizen  of  Buffalo,  at  one  time  the  principal  hardware  merchant 
of  the  city,  the  Weed  Hardware  Store  on  the  north-west  corner  of 
Main  and  Swan  streets  being  still  prominent.  His  mother  was  a 
daughter  of  Dr.  Cyrenius  Chapin,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Buffalo,  and 
one  of  its  brave  defenders  at  its  burning  by  the  British  in  1S13. 

The  family  have  been  connected  with  St.  Paul's  parish  almost  since 
its  foundation. 

DeWitt  C.  Weed  was  from  early  youth  an  active  member  of  St. 
Paul's  ;  in  1847  and  after,  one  of  the  "junior  vestry,"  and  prominent  in 
working  for  the  building  of  the  new  church.  He  was  on  the  first 
building  committee  in  1849,  and  on  that  of  1867  and  1870  ;  a  member 
of  the  vestry  in  1856,  1857,  1863  and  1874,  and  treasurer  of  the  parish 
from  1858  to  1870,  resigning  in  1871.  He  was,  to  all  intents  and  pur- 
poses, the  founder  of  the  church  of  St.  Mary's-on-the-Hill,  which  was 
not  far  from  his  home  on  Connecticut  Street. 

DeWitt  C.  Weed  married,  June  2-,  1853,  Miss  Lucy  Kimberley, 
second  daughter  of  John  L.  Kimberley.  Mrs.  Weed  survives  him, 
also  two  daughters  and  a  son. 

1877. 

Edwin  Huribert  died  in  January,  1877.  He  was  a  vestryman  in 
St.  Paul's  in  1865  and  1866,  and  was  one  of  the  building  committee  in 
the  construction  of  the  spire  on  the  main  tower.  His  intelligent  super- 
vision and  almost  constant  attention  to  the  details  of  the  architect's 
plans  resulted  in  the  graceful  and  well-proportioned  spire  of  our 
beautiful  church  edifice. 

February  24,  1877,  the  vestry  met,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  in  the 
chair.  It  was  stated  that  the  object  of  the  meeting  was  for  the  pur- 
pose of  considering  the  propriety  of  electing  the  assistant,  the  Rev.  S. 
H.  Gurteen  as  assistant  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  Permission  was 
given  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gurteen  to  extend  the  organ  loft  four  feet  forward 
and  to  place  a  chancel  organ  over  the  vestry  room. 


122  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

March  6,  1877,  the  vestry  passed  the  resolution  that  the  Rev.  S.  H. 
Gurteen  be  elected  the  assistant  rector  of  the  parish  and  that  his 
salary  be  $2,500  per  annum,  and  that  the  salary  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shel- 
ton  as  the  rector  be  $1,000  per  annum. 

March  14,  1877,  it  was  reported  to  the  vestry  that  Mr.  Kip  declined 
to  give  up  the  funds  in  his  hands,  contributed  for  a  former  mission  to 
the  present  German  mission. 

April  2,  1877,  at  the  annual  election,  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  presiding, 
C.  W.  Evans  and  W.  H.  Walker  were  elected  wardens,  and  Cyrus 
Clarke,  L.  C.  Woodruff,  John  Pease,  G.  S.  Hazard,  M.  B.  Moore,  H.  H. 
Baker,  Dr.  A.  R.  Davidson  and  A.  P.  Thompson,  vestrymen  ;  April 
16th,  J.  B.  Seymour  was  appointed  clerk,  and  J.  W.  Sanford  treasurer. 

September  7,  1877,  George  B.  Dudley  was  elected  clerk  of  the 
vestry  in  place  of  John  B.  Seymour,  deceased.  The  vestry  passed 
resolutions  relative  to  the  death  of  John  B.  Seymour,  late  clerk  of 
the  vestry,  and  placed  on  record  their  appreciation  of  the  faithful 
manner  in  which  he  had  discharged  the  duties  of  his  office,  and  bore 
testimony  to  his  many  excellent  qualities,  and  tendered  to  his  widow 
and  family  the  assurances  of  their  deep  sympathy  in  their  irreparable 
loss.  The  vestry  agreed  that  the  parish  should  pay  $280  per  annum 
for  the  support  of  the  Episcopate. 

1878. 

March  28,  1878,  the  rector  called  the  attention  of  the  vestry  to  a 
call  that  the  Rev.  S.  H.  Gurteen,  the  assistant  rector,  had  received  from 
Emmanuel  Church  in  Boston,  Mass. 

March  30,  1878,  the  vestry  requested  the  Legislature  of  the  State 
of  New  York  to  pass  an  act  in  regard  to  the  powers  of  an  associate 
rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  and  also  passed  a  resolution  that  the 
official  relations  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gurteen  be  the  same  and  declared  to 
be  associate  rector,  and  that  his  salary  be  $4,000  per  annum  from  and 
after  April  1,  1878,  and  that  he  be  requested  to  organize  a  full  choral 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  123 

service  for  St.  Paul's  Church  to  be  used  for  each  Sunday  evening  ser- 
vice, and  authorized  to  make  such  alterations  in  the  chancel  as  he  may 
deem  necessary  for  that  purpose. 

At  the  annual  election,  April  22,  1S78,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton 
presiding,  Charles  W.  Evans  and  William  H.  Walker  were  elected 
wardens,  and  Cyrus  Clarke,  L.  C.  Woodruff,  John  Pease,  G.  S.  Hazard, 
Mark  B.  Moore,  Howard  H.  Baker,  Dr.  A.  R.  Davidson  and  A.  Porter 
Thompson,  vestrymen.  George  B.  Dudley  was  appointed  clerk,  and 
James  W.  Sanford  treasurer. 

1879. 

Elijah  Ford,  formerly  one  of  the  vestry,  died  in  March,  1879,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-four.  He  took  great  interest  in  the  construction  of 
the  church  edifice,  and  his  legal  advice  and  services  were  of  much 
value  to  the  vestry,  and  were  freely  given  in  addition  to  his  liberal 
pecuniary  contributions. 

April  14,  1S79,  at  the  annual  election,  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  pre- 
siding, C.  W.  Evans  and  W.  H.  Walker  were  elected  wardens,  and 
John  Pease,  Dr.  A.  R.  Davidson,  L.  C.  Woodruff,  G.  S.  Hazard,  A.  P. 
Thompson,  M.  B.  Moore  and  Cyrus  Clarke,  vestrymen  ;*  William  Y. 
Warren  was  appointed  clerk,  and  J.  W.  Sanford  treasurer. 

May  12,  1879,  the  estimated  receipts  of  the  parish  being  much  less 
than  the  proposed  expenditures,  the  vestry  fixed  the  salary  of  the  rector 
at  $1,000  and  the  associate  rector  at  $2,500  for  the  year,  from  April  r, 
1S79,  to  April  1,  18S0,  and  for  the  music  appropriated  $1,500  per 
annum  ;  but  it  was  subsequently  agreed  that  the  salary  of  the  associate 
rector  be  fixed  at  $3,000,  if  satisfactory  to  him,  instead  of  the  $4,000 
as  was  appropriated  on  March  30,  1878. 

*  This  election  resulted  in  a  tie  for  the  position  of  eighth  vestryman  between 
Messrs.  Howard  H.  Baker  and  Sheldon  T.  Viele.  By  mutual  agreement,  a  new 
election  was  not  held  to  vote  off  this  tie,  and  the  vestry  consequently  continued 
throughout  the  year  with  seven  vestrymen  instead  of  eight. 


124  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

July  10,  1879,  the  vestry  resolved,  that  as  on  the  1  ith  of  September, 
1879,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  would  have  completed  the  50th  year  of 
his  services  as  rector,  it  was  fitting  that  such  an  unusual  event  in 
the  annals  of  the  church  in  the  United  States  should  be  marked  by 
some  suitable  action  on  the  part  of  the  parish  ;  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  take  such  steps  as  were  suitable  to  the  proper  observance 
of  the  anniversary.  A  communication  was  received  from  the  Rev.  S. 
H.  Gurteen  declining  to  accept  a  less  salary  than  $4,000  per  annum. 
The  vestry  resolved  that  a  mortgage  of  $1,500  be  executed  on  the 
rectory,  in  order  to  pay  Mr.  Gurteen  the  $4,000  per  annum,  and  Mr. 
Gurteen  agreed  on  his  part  to  accept  $2,500  for  the  year  from  April  1, 
1879,  to  April  1,  1880. 

In  a  communication  from  Mr.  George  Alfred  Stringer,  to  the 
"Church  Kalendar,"  it  is  stated  that  the  "fiftieth  anniversary  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Shelton's  pastorate  was  a  memorable  occasion.  Among  the 
dignitaries  of  the  church  present  were  the  Rt.  Rev.  A.  Cleveland  Coxe, 
Bishop  of  the  Diocese  ;  the  Rt.  Rev.  John  C.  Talbot,  Bishop  of  Indiana  ; 
the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Fuller,  Lord  Bishop  of  Niagara,  Ont.,  and  others. 
It  was  on  this  occasion  that  Dr.  Shelton  withdrew  from  the  active 
pastorate  of  the  church.  During  the  week  that  followed  several  not- 
able gatherings  were  held,  all  commemorative  of  his  half  century  of 
service  in  St.  Paul's  parish.  At  a  ministers'  meeting,  composed  of 
thirty  Buffalo  clergymen  of  different  denominations,  formal  con- 
gratulations addressed  to  Dr.  Shelton  were  adopted.  A  reception 
was  held  at  the  rectory,  September  15th,  at  which  the  Guild  of  St. 
Paul's  Church  presented  Dr.  Shelton  with  a  large  portrait  of  himself, 
painted  by  Mr.  Sellstedt,  Dr.  A.  R.  Davidson  making  the  presentation 
address. 

.  .  .  .  "  On  this  occasion  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  preached  a 
sermon,  in  the  course  of  which  he  said:  —  'Our  good  predecessors 
reared  this  parish  when  opulence,  as  it  is  now  seen,  had  no  existence 
here.  The  costly  vehicles  which  now  fill  our  streets,  the  palatial  houses 
of  our  merchants,  were  then  unknown.     They  lived,  if  not  in  houses 


THE     REVEREND     DOCTOR     SHELTON,     IN     HIS    8oth     YEAR. 

Presented  by  Si.  Paul's  Guild  to  Dr.  Shelton  in  1879,  on  the  Fiftieth  Anniversary 

of  his  Rectorate  ;  bequeathed  by  him  to  St.  Paul's,  and 

now  in  the  Parish  House.     (See  page  124.) 


From  the  Painting  by  L.  G.  Sellstedt,  N.  A.,  1877. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  125 

of  hewn  logs  of  the  forest,  yet  in  habitations  which  would  now  be 
eschewed.  And  as  late  as  my  own  day  the  natives  of  the  forest  had 
their  houses  upon  the  borders  of  the  village,  and  some  of  them,  with 
their  chiefs  and  great  men,  were  often  seen  in  our  streets.' — Great 
must  have  been  the  contrast  to  the  venerable  rector,  as  he  stood  on 
that  proud  day  in  the  pulpit  of  the  beautiful  church,  whose  building 
was  a  large  part  of  his  life-work,  and  looked  down  upon  the  large  and 
attentive  congregation.  Great  was  the  contrast  and  great  was  his 
gratitude,  as  he  looked  back  to  the  slender  beginning,  when  he 
preached  his  first  sermon  in  the  old  frame  church  of  St.  Paul's  to  the 
forty-five  families  who  then  constituted  the  parish.  His  name  and 
work  are  indissolubly  connected  with  the  entire  history  of  the  city  of 
Buffalo."  Dr.  Shelton  was  that  year  chosen  a  delegate  to  the  General 
Convention. 

December  30,  1879,  it  was  reported  to  the  vestry  that  Mr.  Henry 
Kip  had  paid  over  the  funds  in  his  hands  to  be  applied  to  the  payment 
of  the  mortgage  debt  on  the  German  Mission  Church,  and  the  thanks 
of  the  vestry  were  thereupon  tendered  to  Mr.  Kip. 


1880. 

The  majority  of  the  vestries  of  1877,  1878  and  1879  were  in  favor 
of  the  measures  advocated  by  the  Rev.  S.  H.  Gurteen,  the  assistant 
minister,  but  it  was  not  fully  known  what  all  those  measures  really 
were.  One  of  them,  however,  was  quite  revolutionary  in  its  character, 
which  was  to  have  an  associate  rector  —  two  rectors  instead  of 
one,  two  heads  of  the  parish  instead  of  one  —  and  on  March  30, 
1878,  the  vestry  actually  passed  the  measure,  and,  to  make  it 
legal  and  binding,  procured  an  act  to  be  passed  by  the  Legislature  of 
the  State  of  New  York  in  1878  ratifying  and  confirming  the  same. 
Mr.  Walker,  the  junior  warden,  took  legal  advice  on  the  subject 
and    found    that    such    an    act   could    be   set   aside    by   the    Court. 


126  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

There  was  a  quiet  but  strong  opposition  in  the  congregation  to 
Mr.  Gurteen  and  his  adherents,  and  at  the  annual  election  of 
wardens  and  vestrymen  on  Easter  Monday,  March  29,  18S0,  quite 
a  large  number  of  the  voters  assembled  in  the  church  edifice.  Dr. 
Shelton,  as  the  rector,  presided  at  the  meeting,  ar.d  appointed  tellers 
to  receive  and  count  the  votes.  The  result  of  the  election  was  a 
complete  triumph  of  the  conservative  element  in  the  congregation, 
and  effectually  silenced  those  opposed  to  Dr.  Shelton.  There  were  135 
votes  cast,  much  larger  in  number  than  ever  before.  The  average 
majority  was  about  90,  and  the  following  persons  were  elected  :  Charles 
W.  Evans  and  William  H.  Walker,  wardens  ;  John  Pease,  A.  Porter 
Thompson,  Albert  J.  Barnard,  Dr.  A.  R.  Davidson,  Henry  R.  Howland, 
George  A.  Stringer,  Howard  H.  Baker  and  Dr.  Henry  R.  Hopkins, 
vestrymen.  William  V.  Warren  was  appointed  clerk,  and  James  W. 
Sanford  treasurer. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  April  3,  1880,  the  resolutions  formerly 
passed  constituting  the  Rev.  S.  H.  Gurteen  an  assistant  rector  and 
associate  rector,  were  revoked,  rescinded  and  annulled,  and  it  was 
resolved  that  all  connection  of  the  Rev.  S.  H.  Gurteen  with  St.  Paul's 
Church  and  parish  "be  and  the  same  is  wholly  terminated  and  ended." 

May  6,  1880,  William  Y.  Warren  having  resigned  as  clerk  of  the 
vestry,  Theodore  F.  Welch  was  appointed  to  that  office. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  recommended  the  Rev.  Charles  L.  Hutchins  to 
be  the  associate  minister  of  the  parish,  and  the  vestry  approved  of  his 
nomination.  June  29,  1880,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gurteen  addressed  a  commu- 
nication to  the  vestry,  stating  that  he  had  accepted  a  call  to  Trinity 
Church,  Toledo,  Ohio,  and  resigned  his  office  as  associate  rector  of 
St.  Paul's  Church,  from  and  after  September  1,  1880.  This  communi- 
cation was  laid  on  the  table.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Hutchins  declined  the 
position  of  associate  minister.  The  Rev.  J.  W.  Craig  was  invited  to 
the  position  for  three  months,  but  illness  prevented  his  acceptance. 

July  29,  1880,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Douglass  of  Trinity  Church,  New  York, 
was   invited   to  be   the   assistant  minister  of  St.    Paul's  Church,   but 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  127 

declined.  September  9,  1880,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  stated  to  the  vestry 
that  he  had  before  determined  to  do  away  with  the  intoning  of  the 
prayers  in  the  church  services,  but  that  he  had  found  that  the  children 
had  become  very  much  attached  to  the  service  as  it  was,  and  in  view  of 
all  the  circumstances  he  deemed  it  wise  not  to  make  any  changes  against 
the  wishes  of  a  great  many,  as  would  be  the  case.  He  said  he  would 
have  no  objection  to  the  chanting  of  the  Creed,  the  Psalms,  the  Glorias 
and  the  Amen,  but  he  thought  the  intoning  of  the  prayers  might  be 
dispensed  with.  However,  under  the  circumstances,  he  would  with- 
draw all  opposition  from  that  time  to  the  service  as  now  conducted  in 
that  respect. 

It  was  resolved  by  the  vestry  that  the  interests  of  the  church  and 
the  interests  of  the  Sunday-School  required  the  efficient  maintenance 
of  a  full  choral  service. 

1 88l. 

January  11,  1881,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  called  the  vestry  together 
and  communicated  to  them  his  resignation  as  the  rector  of  the  parish, 
in  the  following  letter  read  by  him  : 

Buffalo,  January  n,  1881. 

I  have  asked  you  as  a  vestry  to  meet  me  this  evening  that  I  might  resign  the  posi- 
tion I  have  so  long  held  as  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

I  do  this  from  a  sense  of  duty,  considering  that  my  day  of  usefulness,  from  age 
and  infirmities,  is  essentially  passed  away.  I  wish  to  add  that  I  consider  you  have 
borne  with  me  in  my  great  age  longer  than  others  would  have  done  in  this  selfish  and 
sordid  age.  But  you  will  understand  that  I  have  not  lost  my  interest  in  the  parish 
nor  with  the  individuals  composing  it.  You  will  also  bear  in  mind  that  I  have  no 
distrust,  neither  is  there  any  want  of  the  affectionate  regard  which  I  have  so  long  had 
for  every  one  of  you.  It  is  simply  because  I  am  sure  that  I  promote  the  best  interests, 
the  peace  and  happiness  as  well  as  prosperity  of  the  congregation  by  the  act  I  now 
perform.  But  it  is  quite  impossible  for  me  to  free  myself  from  a  situation  of  such 
grave  importance  without  grief  and  distress. 

My  parish,  which  I  now  relinquish,  has  been  to  me  my  only  care  and  the  ceaseless 
object  of  interest   for  more  than  fifty-one  years.     It  has  always  been  a  prosperous, 


128  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

united  and  happy  body  of  Christians.  My  many  defects  and  infirmities  have  been 
borne  with  a  uniform  and  kindly  forbearance,  and  it  has  been  at  all  times  generous, 
kind  and  considerate. 

I  need  not  say  that  I  have  steadily  inculcated  the  great  and  grand  doctrines  of  the 
Christian  religion  according  to  the  Catholic  or  universal  teachings  of  the  Church  as 
expressed  in  her  creeds,  in  her  liturgy  and  in  her  history.  Private  opinion  has  had  no 
weight. 

The  changing  opinions  and  views,  both  of  doctrines  and  practice  of  others,  have 
not  been  followed,  because  I  have  believed  the  Church  to  be  supreme  and  infinitely 
above  all  novelties,  both  in  practice  and  in  doctrine. 

You  have  ever  heard  this  great  and  fundamental  truth,  that  God  made  and  fash- 
ioned and  gave  authority,  as  well  as  all  truth  which  is  necessary  to  salvation,  to  the 
Church,  as  He  did  to  the  movements  of  the  heavenly  bodies,  which  He  first  formed  and 
then  put  in  motion  and  gave  them  laws  which  were  to  last  as  long  as  they  had  being. 

I  need  not  say  that  I  have  cherished  these  views  sacredly,  believing  in  them  not- 
withstanding the  denials,  the  errors,  the  confusion  of  the  religious  world,  all  of  which 
would  come  to  an  end  if  these  views  were  adopted.  I  do  not  desire  to  express  my 
great  humility,  which  is  felt  when  I  look  upon  the  errors  and  mistakes  of  a  long  life 
now  soon  to  end.  But  I  wish  to  say  that  your  indulgence,  and  that  of  those  who  have 
gone  before  you,  have  had  much  to  do  with  the  prosperity  and  harmony  of  the  church, 
both  in  the  past  and  the  present. 

I  must  trust  that  God  will  pardon  what  has  been  done  so  imperfectly,  considering 
that  He  has  intrusted  so  many  and  great  and  sacred  duties  to  earthen  vessels. 

Without  intending  to  go  more  minutely  into  all  that  can  be  said,  I  respectfully 
subscribe  myself  as  your  old  and  long-tried  friend. 

WILLIAM  SHELTON. 

The  reading  of  the  letter  called  forth  many  strong  and  earnest 
expressions  of  love  and  affection  to  the  Doctor,  and  the  following 
resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted  : 

Whereas,  The  Rev.  William  Shelton,  D.  D.,  has,  in  consequence  of  advancing 
years  and  the  infirmities  of  age,  presented  to  the  vestry  his  resignation  of  the  rector- 
ship of  St.  Paul's  Church  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  we  receive  this  announcement  with  profound  sorrow,  but  we 
recognize  in  it  the  same  devotion  to  the  church  and  to  the  parish  which  has  always 
characterized  the  action  of  our  revered  pastor  and  friend. 

Resolved,  That  in  accepting  this  resignation  we  do  so  with  the  earnest  hope  and 
wish  that  Dr.  Shelton,  as  honorary  rector  of  the  parish,  will  remain  with  us  so  long 


THE     REVEREND     DOCTOR     SHELTON     IN     THE     CHANCEL     OF     ST.    FAIL'S. 
February,  1881,  in  his  83d  year. 
From  a  photograph  by  H.  McMichael. 


History  of  St.  Pau/'s  Church.  129 

as  life  shall  last.  That  he  will  continue  to  occupy  the  rectory  endeared  to  him,  to  his 
family  and  to  ourselves,  by  so  many  sacred  associations  —  that  he  will  go  in  and  out 
among  us,  dispensing  the  holy  offices  of  religion  as  health  and  strength  may  permit. 

Resolved,  That  we  wish  to  express,  however  feebly  and  imperfectly,  our  apprecia- 
tion of  the  great  ability,  the  noble  and  generous  conduct,  and,  above  all,  the  Christian 
faith  and  earnestness,  as  well  as  the  marvelous  fidelity  to  the  poor,  the  sick,  and 
the  afflicted,  which  for  more  than  fifty  years  have  been  exemplified  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Shelton  in  this  parish.  Whenever  any  effort  was  to  be  made  involving  self-sacrifice, 
he  has  always  led  the  way  with  a  courage  and  liberality  which  have  ensured  success. 
By  the  vestry  and  the  congregation  these  qualities  and  these  sacrifices  can  never  be 
forgotten.  They  will  remain  the  chiefest  treasures  we  possess,  and  they  will  leave  an 
impression  upon  this  parish  which  will  not  be  effaced. 

Resolved,  That  the  clerk  of  the  vestry  and  other  proper  officers  of  St.  Paul's 
parish  be  and  are  hereby  instructed  to  execute  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  a  life  lease  of 
the  rectory. 

Resolved,  That  no  clergyman  shall  be  called  to  the  rectorship  of  this  parish  with- 
out the  free  and  hearty  concurrence  and  consent  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton. 

The  following  letter  was  addressed  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  by 
the  Bishop  of  Western  New  York  : 

,,    „        ^      „,   ,  See-House,  Buffalo,  January  12,  1S81. 

My  Dear  Dr.  Shelton  :  —  J  J       ' 

On  reaching  home  this  morning  I  learned  of  your  resignation,  and  read  the  inter- 
esting correspondence  in  "  The  Express." 

It  is  a  correspondence  highly  creditable  to  all  concerned.  On  your  part,  you 
retire,  prompted  only  by  your  own  anxieties  for  the  welfare  of  your  beloved  St.  Paul's, 
in  view  of  abated  physical  strength  ;  but  every  word  of  your  letter  is  vigorous  proof 
of  an  intellect  unimpaired,  and  rings  with  the  characteristic  tone  of  your  life-long 
testimony  for  Christ  and  His  Church.  I  thank  you  for  such  a  letter  ;  it  will  be  read 
throughout  the  land,  by  churchmen  generally,  with  feelings  of  honorable  pride  in  a 
rectorship  extended  through  half  a  century,  and  laid  down  with  such  dignity,  while  yet 
there  is  promise  of  years  of  remaining  usefulness  among  those  who  have  grown  up 
under  your  pastoral  care. 

And  on  the  part  of  your  people,  what  a  testimony  to  your  fidelity  and  to  their 
appreciation  of  your  life  and  character  !  I  was  pleased  with  their  tribute  to  your  spirit 
of  devotion  to  the  Master.  That  you  are  still  to  be  with  them  ;  still  to  be  seen  in 
your  place  a  pastor  and  priest  ;  still  to  reside  in  the  rectory,  going  in  and  out  among 
a  whole  community  that  delight  to  do  you  honor  :  all  this  deprives  the  event  of  the 
pang  inseparable  from  such  changes  as  involve  seeing  the  face  of  a  friend  no  more. 


130  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

And  I  thank  God,  in  these  days  of  fickle  fashions  and  caprices,  that  to  St.  Paul's 
parish  will  ever  belong  the  credit  of  such  a  protracted  record.  More  than  fifty  years, 
and  only  one  rector  !  Six-and-thirty  periods  like  this  would  reach  back  to  the  days  of 
the  Apostles.  May  every  blessing  attend  the  residue  of  your  ministry  and  your  life. 
Accept  my  assurance  that  I  count  it  an  honor  to  subscribe  myself, 

Rev.  and  dear  sir,  your  friend  and  diocesan, 

To  Rev.   Dr.  Shelton,  Etc.  A     CLEVELAND    COXE. 

The  following  editorial  appeared  in  the  Buffalo  Courier  of  January 
12,  1 88 1  : 

THE   RETIRACY   OF  DR.    SHELTON. 

"  Rev.  Wm.  Shelton,  D.  D.,  the  veteran  rector  of  St.  Paul's,  retires  from  his  charge 
after  having  officiated  in  the  same  pulpit  for  fifty-one  years  ;  and  the  love  and  esteem 
of  his  parishioners  and  all  others  who  know  him  follow  him  into  retiracy.  His 
advanced  age  entitles  him  to  the  rest  he  has  for  some  years  sought.  As  a  minister  of 
the  gospel  and  a  man,  he  has  met  his  obligations  faithfully  and  well.  A  man  of  great 
physical  and  mental  stamina  ;  strong  willed,  independent  and  aggressive  ;  broad  and 
liberal  in  his  views,  he  has  always  been  known  alike  for  his  fearlessness  and  honesty 
and  his  devotion  to  his  church.  He  has  fought  the  battle  of  life  with  rare  courage  — 
but  few  men  have  ever  been  better  equipped  for  it  ;  and  he  lays  down  his  armor  like 
a  true  soldier,  conscious  that  he  has  never  dishonored  his  cause.  In  the  history  of 
the  city  he  has  been  a  grand  old  landmark,  which,  once  removed,  can  never  be 
replaced  ;  but  he  is  with  us  still,  in  good  health,  and  in  the  full  possession  of  his 
faculties  ;  and  that  he  may  be  spared  to  us  these  many  years,  is  our  sincerest  wish." 

April  12,  1 88 1,  at  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  it  was  stated  that  the 
parish  owed  a  floating  debt.  It  was  resolved  that  $1,200  be  paid  to 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Ingersoll  for  his  officiating  in  the  church  services  for  the 
past  year.  The  wardens  reported  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gurteen  had  sued 
the  parish  for  $625  for  past  services,  but  it  was  contended  that  nothing 
was  due  him,  and  the  suit  was  not  prosecuted. 

April  18,  1881,  at  the  annual  election,  Charles  W.  Evans  and  William 
H.  Walker  were  elected  wardens,  and  John  Pease,  A.  Porter  Thompson, 
A.  J.  Barnard,  Dr.  A.  R.  Davidson,  George  A.  Stringer,  Henry  R. 
Howland,  Howard  H.  Baker  and  Dr.  Henry  R.  Hopkins,  vestrymen  ; 
Theodore  F.  Welch  was  appointed  clerk,  and  James  W.  Sanford 
treasurer. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 


131 


June  25,  1881,  the  committee  appointed  in  1878  to  ascertain  the  then 
indebtedness  of  the  parish  and  to  obtain  subscriptions  for  the  payment 
therefor,  reported  to  the  vestry  that  there  was  due  at  Easter,  1878  : 

To  the  Rev.  Dr.   Shelton,  for  arrears  of  salary, $5,237.95 

To  the  mortgage  on  the  parsonage, 4,700.00 

Other  indebtedness 2,488.27 


$12,426.22 

The  committee  reported  that  subscriptions  had   been  made  to  pay 
the  same,  as  follows  : 

Rev.  Dr.  Shelton, 
William  H.  Walker, 
Charles  W.  Evans,    . 
A.  Porter  Thompson, 
G.  S.  Hazard, 
S.  G.  Cornell, 
L.  C.  Woodruff,  .     . 
J.  L.  Kimberly,    . 
George  N.  Burwell,  .- 
George  E.  Hayes,     . 
Mrs.  G.  H.  Bryant, 
In  memory  of  Carlos  Cobb 

his  daughter,  . 
Lcetitia  P.  Viele,  .      . 
Agnes  Warren,    . 
The  Misses  Kimberly, 
Andrew  Brown,    . 
Cyrus  Clarke,  . 
J.  F.  Demarest,   . 
William  H.  Glenny,  Jr 
George  Meacham, 
M.  B.  Moore,       .     . 
G.  A.  Scroggs, 
T.  Guilford  Smith,    . 
H.  R.  Hopkins,  .     . 
Sheldon  T.  Viele, 
William  K.  Allen,     . 


by 


5,000.00 

Cyrus  Clarke  Vandeventer 

$100.00 

1,000.00 

M.  Powers  Fillmore, 

100.00 

500.00 

G.  A.  Hibbard,    .     . 

100.00 

500.00 

Wm.  Meadows,    . 

100.00 

500.00 

F.  W.  Scott,    .     . 

100.00 

500.00 

Esther  M.  Squier, 

100.00 

500.00 

G.  A.  Stringer,     . 

100.00 

250.00 

Mrs.  G.  F.  Lee,   . 

75.00 

200.00 

Frank  Kimberly,  . 

50.00 

200.00 

Gertrude  S.  Talcott, 

50.00 

200.00 

Agnes  Squier, 
I.  R.  Bray  ton, 

50.00 

50.00 

200.00 

John  Pease,      .     . 

50.00 

200.00 

A.  R.  Davidson, 

50.00 

150.00 

James  Sweeney,    . 

50.00 

150.00 

J.  C.  Nagel,     .     . 

50.00 

125.00 

II.  R.  Howland, 

50.00 

100.00 

E.  L.  Kimberly,  . 

25.00 

100.00 

E.  S.  Warren,       . 

25.00 

100.00 

Daniel  Peniield,    . 

25.00 

100.00 

C.  G.  Curtiss,  .     . 

25.00 

100.00 

C.  M.  Howe,  .     . 

25.00 

100.00 

O.  B.  Howe,   .     . 

25.00 

100.00 

Howard  H.  Baker, 

25.00 

100.00 

Mrs.  J.  L.  Talcott, 

2500 

100.00 

Henry  Bull,      .     . 

25.00 

100.00 

Mrs.  J.  G.  Guenther 

, 

25.00 

132 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 


Mary  E.  Walker, 
Edward  Dows, 
M.  S.  Burns,   .     .     . 
C.  K.  Remington,     . 
S.  L.  Porter,    .     .      . 
Sanford  C.  McKnight, 
William  Savage,   . 
Mrs.  B.  F.  Smith,     . 


£25.00 
20.00 
15.00 
15.88 
1500 
10.00 
10.00 
10.00 


Stephen  Walker,  . 
Mrs.  Brent,  .  . 
T.  D.  Sheridan,  . 
William  Johnson, 
Miss  H.  M.  Abel, 
Mary  A.  Coit, 
W.  Y.  Warren,  . 
J.  M.  Haight, 


$6.25 
5.00 
500 
5.00 
5.00 
5.00 
3.00 
3-75 


Collection,  Easter,  1878, 

Total  collected,  up  to  June  25,  1881,  on  above  indebtedness, 


Total, $12,808.88 

"9-93 


512,928.81 


The  committee  reported  that  they  had  paid  all  of  the  above  indebt- 
edness of  $12,426.22,  and  several  small  items,  and  in  addition  had  paid 
$490  on  the  principal  of  the  new  $1,500  mortgage,  which  had  been 
placed  by  the  vestry  on  the  rectory  since  the  organization  of  the 
committee,  leaving  a  present  indebtedness  on  the  said  mortgage  of 
$1,010. 

Mrs.  Eliza  Hamilton,  widow  of  Henry  Hamilton,  and  one  of  the 
oldest  residents  of  Buffalo,  died  in  October,  1881,  in  the  seventy- 
seventh  year  of  her  age.  Henry  Hamilton  was  one  of  the  vestry,  and 
also  one  of  the  wardens  of  St.  Paul's,  and  died  in  September,  1852, 
aged  fifty-five.  Benjamin  B.  Hamilton  of  Buffalo,  and  Claude  Hamilton 
of  San  Francisco,  and  Caroline,  widow  of  the  late  Frank  E.  Coit,  sur- 
vived their  mother.  Mrs.  Hamilton  was  a  parishioner  of  St.  Paul's  for 
nearly  sixty  years. 

October  29,  1881,  the  vestry  resolved  to  tender  a  call  to  the  Rev. 
Chauncy  C.  Williams  of  Augusta,  Georgia,  to  be  the  rector  of  St. 
Paul's  Church,  at  a  salary  of  $4,000  and  an  allowance  of  $500  for  the 
expenses  of  his  removal  to  Buffalo. 

December  3,  1881,  the  vestry  agreed  to  have  a  platform  placed  in 
part  of  the  chancel,  and  to  extend  the  chancel  floor  so  as  to  accommo- 
date the  surpliced  choir. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  133 

1882. 

January  7,  1882,  the  committee  reported  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Williams 
had  visited  the  parish,  and  that  he  had  been  generally  liked,  but  had 
declined  the  call  for  the  reason  that  his  wife's  health  rendered  it 
necessary  to  remain  in  a  warm  climate. 

In  the  latter  part  of  January,  1882,  the  vestry  called  the  Rev.  John 
W.  Brown,  D.  D.,  the  then  rector  of  Trinity  Church  in  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
to  the  rectorship  of  St.  Paul's,  Buffalo.  He  had  visited  Buffalo  and 
preached  in  St.  Paul's  on  Sunday,  January  30,  1881,  and  was  very 
acceptable  to  the  congregation,  but  his  people  in  Cleveland  were  very 
unwilling  to  have  him  leave  that  city.  Under  certain  circumstances, 
as  improved  parish  accommodations,  he  concluded  to  remain  with 
them,  but  subsequently  these  improvements  were  not  made. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  February  1  r,  1882,  the  committee  having 
in  charge  the  selection  of  a  new  rector,  reported  that  they  had  visited 
Detroit,  and  were  pleased  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Worthington  of  that  city. 
He  accepted  their  invitation  to  visit  St.  Paul's  in  Buffalo,  and  officiated 
and  preached  one  Sunday,  but  gave  no  encouragement  that  he  would 
accept  a  call,  as  influential  members  of  his  own  congregation  wished 
him  to  remain  in  Detroit.  He  was  afterwards  elected  ISishop  of  the 
Diocese  of  Nebraska. 

Mr.  Wm.  H.  Walker  of  the  Finance  Committee  stated  to  the  vestry 
that,  including  the  mortgage  on  the  rectory,  the  parish  would  be  in 
debt  at  Easter,  1882,  only  in  about  the  sum  of  $1,400,  and  that  $600 
was  already  pledged  towards  paying  this  sum,  provided  the  entire 
amount  were  raised  by  Easter. 

February,  1882,  $500  —  bequest  for  a  memorial  window  in  the 
Sunday  School  —  was  paid  to  the  vestry,  by  the  executor  of  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Staats  Seymour. 

Some  years  previous  to  her  making  the  bequest,  a  Sunday-School 
building  separate  from  the  church  was  contemplated,  and  a  consider- 


134  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

able  sum  was  provided  for  it  ;  but  the  project  was  finally  abandoned 
and  the  money  was  used  in  fitting  up  the  basement  room  under 
the  church  as  a  chapel  and  Sunday-School  room.  On  the  receipt 
of  Mrs.  Seymour's  bequest,  which  was  paid  by  her  executor  in  February, 
1882,  the  room  was  much  enlarged  at  an  expense  of  more  than  $2,500, 
and  made  to  communicate  by  a  stairway  with  the  interior  of  the  church  ; 
an  additional  window  was  cut  in  the  northerly  end  of  the  stone  founda- 
tion on  Erie  Street,  and  in  it  was  placed  the  memorial  window  to  the 
deceased  sons  of  Mrs.  Seymour.  The  window  not  only  beautified  the 
chapel  and  Sunday  School,  but  was  also  very  useful  for  light  and 
ventilation.  The  vestry  passed  a  resolution  on  February  n,  1882, 
of  its  desire  to  put  on  record  its  appreciation  of  the  gift  from  one 
who  was  for  many  years  an  honored  and  beloved  member  of  the 
parish. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Courtland  Whitehead  of  Bethlehem,  Pennsylvania, 
having  received  an  informal  call  to  the  rectorship,  visited  and  offici- 
ated at  St.  Paul's  Church  on  Sunday,  February  27,  1882.  His  ser- 
mon was  very  acceptable  to  the  congregation,  but,  after  giving  the 
subject  mature  deliberation,  he  declined  the  position.  He  was  after- 
wards elected  Bishop  of  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  removed  to 
that  city. 

Dr.  George  E.  Hayes,  formerly  one  of  the  vestry,  and  a  liberal 
contributor  to  the  building  of  the  church  edifice,  died  in  April,  1882, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-eight.  He  was  one  of  the  oldest  members  of  St. 
Paul's  Church,  having  come  to  Buffalo  in  1829.  He  was  twice 
married,  his  last  wife  surviving  him.  Harriet,  his  daughter  by  his  first 
wife,  married  the  Rev.  Charles  H.  Smith,  Rector  of  St.  James'  Church, 
Buffalo. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  vestry,  April  1,  1882,  held  at  the  resi- 
dence of  William  H.  Walker,  on  Pearl  Street,  a  communication 
was  received  from  Mr.  Charles  G.  Curtiss,  making  a  memorial  gift 
in  memory  of  his  deceased  wife,  the  late  Amelia  Lent  Curtiss, 
of    a    polished    brass    Litany    desk.     The    vestry    accepted    it    with 


History  of  St.  Pau/'s  Church.  135 

thanks,  and   directed   it  to   be   placed    in   its  appropriate   place   near 
the  chancel.* 

At  the  same  meeting  of  the  vestry,  on  April  1,  1882,  Mr.  Walker 
stated  that  the  revenue  of  the  parish  was  very  nearly  $6,000,  and  that 
the  committee  having  in  charge  the  selection  of  a  rector,  had  again 
visited  Cleveland  for  the  purpose  of  consulting  the  Rev.  Dr.  Brown. 
After  a  full  consultation  with  him  the  result  was  that  he  expressed  his 
willingness  to  accept  a  call  to  the  rectorship  of  St.  Paul's  parish  ;  that 
thereupon  they  tendered  him  a  call,  on  March  31,  1882,  his  salary  to 
be  $6,000  per  year,  and  that  he  had  accepted  the  call.  The  vestry 
unanimously  confirmed  the  action  of  Messrs.  William  H.  Walker  and 
Albert  J.  Barnard,  composing  the  said  committee. 

The  Rev.  John  W.  Brown,  D.  D.,  was  born  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  July 
7,  l837-  The  following  short  biography  of  him  was  published  in  one 
of  the  Buffalo  papers  : 

"  His  father  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  the  '  Monumental  City,'  and  was  for  many 
years  identified  with  its  public  interests.  Dr.  Brown  received  his  early  education  in 
the  schools  of  his  native  city,  and  afterwards  pursued  his  studies  at  Dickinson  Semi- 
nary, Williamsport,  Pa.  He  graduated  from  this  institution  after  completing  the 
scientific  course,  having  prepared  himself  for  the  profession  of  civil  engineer,  which 
calling  he  followed  for  several  years.  His  inclinations,  however,  prompted  him  to 
return  to  the  seminary  and  take  up  a  course  of  Divinity.  He  first  entered  the  Metho- 
dist ministry,  where  he  remained  for  a  short  time,  until  his  convictions  led  him  to  take 
orders  in  the  Episcopal  Church,  which  were  given  him  by  the  late  Bishop  Whitting- 
ham  of  Maryland.  His  first  parish  was  St.  Ann's,  Middletown,  Del.,  where  he 
was  advanced  to  the  priesthood.  Thereafter,  he  was  successively  rector  of  parishes  in 
Philadelphia,  Detroit  and  Cleveland.  He  accepted  a  call  to  the  rectorship  of  St. 
Paul's  Church,  Buffalo,  in  May,  1882,  where  his  eloquence  has  since  drawn  large  and 
devout  congregations.  Dr.  Brown  has  always  shown  strong  musical  inclinations,  and 
commenced  his  education  in  that  art  under  Prof.  Stoddart  of  Baltimore.  Since  that 
time  he  has  continued  his  studies  in  this  direction,  devoting  himself,  however,  more 
especially  to  church  music.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Detroit  Vocal  Society, 
and  afterwards  president  of  the  Cleveland  Vocal  Society,  which,  under  his  administra- 
tion, held  its  first  May  Festival  about  five  years  ago." 

*  This  memorial  was  destroyed  with  the  church,  May  10,  1888. 


136  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Brown  entered  on  the  duties  of  his  office,  as 
rector  of  St.  Paul's,  on  the  fourth  Sunday  after  Easter,  May  7,  1882. 

At  the  annual  election  on  Easter  Monday,  April  10,  1882,  William 
H.  Walker  presiding,  the  following  persons  were  elected  :  Charles 
W.  Evans  and  William  H.  Walker,  wardens,  and  Messrs.  John  Pease, 
A.  Porter  Thompson,  Howard  H.  Baker,  Dr.  Henry  R.  Hopkins,  Dr. 
A.  R.  Davidson,  Henry  R.  Howland,  George  A.  Stringer  and  Albert  J, 
Barnard,  vestrymen. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  on  April  22d,  Theodore  F.  Welch  was 
appointed  clerk,  and  J.  W.  Sanford  treasurer.  The  wardens  reported 
that  they  had  executed  a  life  lease  of  the  rectory,  on  Pearl  Street  to 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton.  The  vestry  approved  of  their  action.  The 
treasurer  reported  that  the  sum  of  $286  had  been  received  during  the 
past  year  from  the  use  of  the  receiving  vault  in  the  basement  of  the 
church,  for  the  burial  of  the  dead.  William  H.  Walker,  one  of  the 
wardens,  reported  to  the  vestry  that  no  indebtedness  of  any  kind 
existed  on  the  church  property,  which  had  not  been  the  case  for  a 
period  of  more  than  twenty-five  years. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  held  at  the  residence  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Brown,  the  rector,  No.  686  on  the  west  side  of  Main  Street,  south  of 
and  near  Tupper  Street,  on  June  3,  1S82,  the  finance  committee 
reported  that  the  estimated  receipts  for  the  year  ending  Easter,  1S83, 
were  :  From  pew  rents,  $7,500  ;  parish  fund  collections  on  Sundays, 
$400  ;  probable  receipts  from  the  receiving  vault  for  the  dead  in  the 
church  basement,  $700  —  in  all,  $8,600  ;  and  that  the  estimated  expen- 
ditures were  :  The  rector's  salary,  $6,000  ;  music,  $2,500  ;  sexton, 
$475  ;  fuel,  $275  ;  insurance,  $375  ;  water  and  gas  bills,  $250  ;  taxes, 
$200;  incidental  and  other  items,  $710  —  in  all,  $10,785  ;  leaving  a 
deficiency  of  $2,185,  which  would  have  to  be  provided  for  by  con- 
tributions. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Brown,  the  rector,  called  the  attention  of  the  vestry 
to  the  necessity  that  as  soon  as  possible  the  parish  should  have  a 
suitable  rectory.     A  committee,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Walker,  Barnard 


THE     REVEREND     JOHN     W.    BROWN,    D.    D. 
Rector  of  St.  Paul's,  May  7,  1882.  to  June  1,  1888. 


From  a  crayon  drawing  made  in  1888,  by 
Mrs.  Persch  von  Ehrenberg.  Now  at  the 
Parish  House. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  137 

and  Hopkins,  reported  favorably,  but  after  considerable  delay  the 
further  consideration  of  the  plan  was  indefinitely  postponed  and,  early 
in  1SS3,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Brown  purchased  for  himself  the  residence,  No. 
568,  on  the  east  side  of  Delaware  Avenue,  north  of  and  near  Allen 
Street,  and  removed  to  it  in  May,  1883. 

June  3,  1882,  it  was  resolved  that  the  rector  be  requested  to  convey 
to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ingersoll  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bielby  the  thanks  of 
the  vestry  for  their  services  in  St.  Paul's  Church  during  the  vacancy  in 
the  rectorship,  and  also  to  convey  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jones  their  thanks 
for  his  services. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry  on  September  13,  1882,  it  was  unani- 
mously resolved  that  the  following  minutes  be  recorded,  and  that  a 
copy  be  sent  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  : 

"  The  death  of  Mrs.  Lucretia  Stanley  Shelton,  the  estimable  wife 
of  the  honorary  rector  of  this  parish,  who  for  more  than  half  a 
century  was  its  beloved  pastor,  merits  from  the  vestry  an  especial 
recognition  that  she  has  been  associated  with  St.  Paul's  parish  from 
its  beginning,  and  has  ever  been  known  as  one  of  its  most  valu- 
able and  devoted  members.  In  her  most  exemplary  life  she  fully 
illustrated  and  confirmed  the  power  and  reality  of  our  holy 
religion  ;  her  devotion  to  duty  in  all  the  ways  of  the  Church, 
her  gentleness,  her  unceasing  benevolence,  her  generous  hospitality, 
her  forgetfulness  of  self  for  the  welfare  of  others,  with  the  other 
notable  traits  which  adorned  her  Christian  character,  offered  us  an 
example  most  worthy  to  be  followed.  With  this  tribute  of  high 
esteem  to  the  memory  of  one  departed,  we  send  our  loving  sympathy 
to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  in  his  sore  bereavement,  and  do  assure 
him  of  our  continued  regard  and  affection,  praying  that  divine 
strength  and  consolation  may  be  granted  to  him  during  the  closing 
years  of  his  most  useful  and  honored  life." 

Lucretia  Stanley  was  born  in  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  July  21,  1798.     She 
first    married    Stephen    K.    Grosvenor    of    Buffalo,  N.  Y.      She    was 


138  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

married  to  the  Rev.  William  Shelton,  D.  D.,  April  7,  1845.  Mrs. 
Shelton  died  at  the  Rectory  on  Pearl  Street,  Buffalo,  after  a  long  and 
painful  illness,  September  6,  1882. 

1883. 

February  8,  1883,  the  vestry  adopted  suitable  resolutions  on  the 
occasion  of  the  sudden  death  of  the  Rev.  Edward  Ingersoll,  D.  D.,  for 
many  years  the  rector  of  Trinity  Church,  Buffalo,  and  who  served  St. 
Paul's  Church  as  minister  in  charge  for  more  than  two  years  during 
the  vacancy  in  the  rectorship.  He  died  very  suddenly,  at  eight  o'clock 
in  the  evening  of  February  6th,  in  the  parlor  of  the  Church  Home  on 
Rhode  Island  Street,  where  he  was  a  frequent  visitor. 

The  resolutions  of  St.  Paul's  vestry  were  as  follows: 

"  The  Rev.  Edward  Ingersoll,  D.  D.,  now  called  to  his  rest,  having 
served  this  parish  as  minister  in  charge  for  more  than  two  years,  dur- 
ing the  vacancy  of  the  rectorship,  we  hereby  place  on  our  records  the 
following  minute  as  a  tribute  to  his   memory  :  — 

"  In  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ingersoll,  the  Church  suffers  the  loss 
of  one  of  her  most  excellent  and  devoted  priests,  who  was  remarked 
for  the  loveliness  of  his  Christian  character  by  all  who  knew  him.  He 
was  truly  a  man  of  God. 

"  In  his  associations  with  St.  Paul's  Church  we  recall  his  kindly  inter- 
est in  her  welfare  and  the  quiet  dignity  of  his  presence  among  us.  He 
was  ever  ready  to  discharge  all  the  duties  of  his  sacred  office  with  sin- 
cerest  fidelity,  and  his  ministrations  were  most  acceptable.  He  also 
endeared  himself  to  the  members  of  the  parish  by  his  long  and 
intimate  friendship  with  the  beloved  honorary  rector,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Shelton." 

Dr.  Ingersoll  was  born  in  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  November  26, 
1810  ;  graduated  from  Yale  College  in  1831,  and  received  the  degree 
of  D.  D.  from  Hobart  College  in   1856.     He  came  to  Trinity  Church, 


PLAN     OF    ST.    PAULS, 
And  names  of  pew  holders  in  1883 


Compiled  from  drawings,  photo 
graphs,  and  records  by  G.  H 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  139 

Buffalo,  in  1844,  succeeding  in  the  rectorship  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hawkes, 
who  was  afterwards  Bishop  of  Missouri.  Dr.  Ingersoll  was  rector  of 
Trinity  Church  for  a  period  of  thirty  years.  Upon  his  retiracy  from 
Trinity  Church  in  1874  he  was  for  about  two  years  in  charge  of  St. 
Peter's  Church,  Niagara  Falls  ;  returning  to  Buffalo,  he  was  elected 
rector  emeritus  of  Trinity  Church,  and  for  some  three  years  prior  to  his 
death  he  acted  as  chaplain  of  the  Church  Home.  He  was  married  at 
New  Haven  in  1836,  to  Catharine  F.  Seymour,  daughter  of  Gordon 
Seymour.  Mrs.  Ingersoll  died  many  years  ago,  but  several  sons  sur- 
vived Dr.  Ingersoll. 

Samuel  G.  Cornell  died  February  5,  1883.  He  was  for  many  years 
connected  with  St.  PauPs  parish,  and  he  was  a  member  of  the  vestry 
from  1855  to  1857,  again  from  1863  until  1869,  and  in  1872  ;  junior 
warden  in  1870  and  1873,  and  one  of  the  building  committee  of  1867 
for  the  completion  of  the  church  edifice.  He  was  also  a  trustee  and  a 
liberal  supporter  of  Hobart  College,  Geneva,  and  was  in  many  direc- 
tions a  representative  man. 

Mr.  Cornell  was  born  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  July  28,  1808,  and  came 
to  Buffalo  in  1852.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  and  president  of  the 
Cornell  Lead  Company,  which  had,  for  many  years,  its  manufactory  on 
the  north  east  corner  of  Virginia  Street  and  Delaware  Avenue  ;  he 
resigned  from  the  company  in  1878,  and  lived  for  a  time  in  New  York 
City.  Returning  to  Buffalo,  he  died  February  5,  1883,  at  the  home  of 
his  son,  Mr.  S.  Douglas  Cornell.  In  1838,  Mr.  Cornell  married  Sarah, 
daughter  of  Major  David  B.  Douglas,  U.  S.  A.,  and  grand-daughter  of 
Andrew  Ellicott  of  West  Point,  the  first  surveyor-general  of  the  United 
States.     Mrs.  Cornell  died  in  1877. 

At  the  annual  election  on  Easter  Monday,  March  26,  18S3,  the  Rev. 
John  W.  Brown,  D.  D.,  rector,  presiding,  the  following  persons  were 
elected  :  Charles  W.  Evans  and  William  H.  Walker,  wardens ;  John 
Pease,  A.  Porter  Thompson,  Howard  H.  Baker,  Dr.  Henry  R.  Hopkins, 
Dr.  A.  R  Davidson,  Henry  R.  Howland,  George  A.  Stringer  and  Albert 
J.  Barnard,  vestrymen. 


140  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

March  31,  18S3,  T.  F.  Welch  was  appointed  clerk,  and  J.  W. 
Sanford  treasurer.  Hobart  Weed,  Edward  C.  Walker  and  Henry  R. 
Hopkins  were  appointed  the  music  committee.  The  treasurer's  annual 
report  and  the  report  of  the  finance  committee  showed  that  all  the 
obligations  of  the  parish  had  been  met,  and  that  there  was  no  debt  of 
any  kind.  A  tax  of  twenty  per  cent,  was  levied  on  the  sold  pews  to 
defray  the  parish  expenses  for  the  ensuing  year. 

Russell  H.  Heywood,  for  many  years  the  senior  warden  of  St.  Paul's 
Church,  and  a  prominent  resident  of  Buffalo,  died  at  his  residence  near 
Sandusky,  Ohio,  in  July,  1883,  in  the  eighty-sixth  year  of  his  age.  He 
was  born  near  Worcester,  Mass.,  September  20,  1797,  and  subsequently 
moved  to  Paris  Hill,  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  and  there  married  Sarah 
Wicks  in  1824.  He  there  first  became  identified  with  the  Episcopal 
Church,  and  soon  after  removed  to  Buffalo  and  became  an  active  mem- 
ber of  St.  Paul's  Church.  He  was  elected  vestryman,  afterwards  junior 
warden,  and  subsequently  senior  warden.  In  1829,  he  erected  a 
spacious  residence,  with  extensive  grounds,  near  what  is  now  the  corner 
of  Seneca  and  Wells  streets,  and  resided  there  for  some  fifty  years, 
until  his  removal  to  Ohio.  His  wife,  Sarah,  died  in  1840,  leaving  him 
three  sons  and  two  daughters  ;  but  his  daughter  Sarah,  the  wife 
of  President  Folwell,  of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  was  the  only 
one  of  the  five  children  who  survived  him.  Mr.  Heywood  married  his 
second  wife,  Harriet  King,  in  1846.  She  was  the  sister-in-law  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Hale,  president  of  Hobart  College,  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  and 
died  some  two  years  previous  to  the  death  of  her  husband.  Mr. 
Heywood  was  one  of  the  largest  contributors  to  the  erection  of  the 
new  church  edifice  of  St.  Paul's.  His  contributions  exceeded  $7,000, 
and  to  him  we  are  indebted  for  the  beautiful  black  walnut  which  so 
enriches  the  interior  of  the  edifice.  In  the  obituary  notice  of  him  it  is 
stated  that  he  was  a  large  and  cheerful  giver  in  public  and  private 
charity.  At  Venice,  Ohio,  he  erected  a  most  beautiful  little  church, 
as  a  memorial  to  his  deceased  children  and  their  mother.  This  church 
he  gave  to  the  Diocese  of  Ohio.     It  was  also  stated  that  he  pursued  his 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  141 

business  with  ardor,  but  was  never  a  slave  to  it.  He  possessed  the 
rare  ability  to  leave  his  business  when  he  went  to  his  house  to  be  the 
friend  and  companion  of  his  children.  The  gain  of  a  fortune  never 
greatly  elated  him,  and  the  loss  of  one  never  for  a  moment  ruffled  his 
composed  and  resolute  mind.  His  funeral  took  place  from  St.  Paul's 
Church,  Buffalo,  on  July  23,  1883,  on  which  day  the  vestry  adopted 
suitable  resolutions  as  a  memorial  of  his  many  services  to  the  parish. 


a  JBrief  SKetcb  of  St.  Paul's  (Iburcb,  Buffalo,  m  ISS3. 

From  the  "  Church  Kalendar"  of  July  14,  z88j* 

"  The  organization  of  the  parish  of  St  Paul's  Church  took  place  at  the  house  of 
Elias  Ransom,  in  the  then  village  of  Buffalo,  February  10,  1817.  The  Rev.  Samuel 
Johnston,  a  missionary  of  the  church  for  all  the  country  west  of  the  Genesee  River, 
officiated  on  the  occasion.  The  certificate  of  incorporation  was  signed  by  him  and 
by  George  Badger  and  Jacob  A.  Barker. 

Messrs.  Erastus  Granger  and  Isaac  Q.  Leake  were  the  first  wardens,  and  Messrs. 
Samuel  Tupper,  Sheldon  Thompson,  Eiias  Ransom,  John  G.  Camp,  Henry  M.  Camp- 
bell, John  S.  Larned,  Jonas  Harrison  and  Dr.  Josiah  Trowbridge  were  the  first 
vestrymen. 

The  church  edifice,  a  handsome  frame  building,  was  built  in  the  Gothic  style  in 
1 8 19,  on  the  lot  given  to  the  parish  by  the  Holland  Land  Company,  bounded  by 
Main,  Erie,  Pearl  and  Church  streets,  and  cost  $5,000.  It  was  enlarged  in  1S28,  at 
an  expense  of  $2,500.  The  enlarged  building  was  78  feet  in  length,  44  feet  in  width, 
and  24  feet  in  height  to  the  square,  and  the  height  of  the  tower  was  40  feet  from  the 
square.  The  Holland  Land  Company  also  gave  to  the  parish,  in  1826,  one  hundred 
acres  of  land  near  the  lower  village  of  Black  Rock,  which  was  sold  by  the  vestry  in 
1844,  and  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  applied  to  the  purchase  of  the  lot  on  Pearl 
Street,  on  which  St.  Paul's  rectory  was  built  in  1S46,  at  a  cost  of  $8,000. 

The  first  settled  missionary  pastor  of  the  parish  was  the  Rev.  William  A.  Clark, 
in  1819  and  1820.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Deodatus  Babcock  from  1S20  to 
1824,  and  the  Rev.  Addison  Searle,  from  1S24  to  1S28.  The  Rev.  Reverard 
Kearney,  in  1S28,  was  followed  by  the  Rev.  William  Shelton,  who  preached  his  first 
sermon,  as  rector,  in  the  church  on  September  13,  1829.  He  was  the  first  rector  of 
the  parish  who  received  no  support  from  the  missionary  fund,  and  faithfully  served 
in  St.  Paul's  for  more  than  fifty  years. 

*  This  article  was  written  for  the  Kalendar  by  the  late  Charles  W.  Evans. 


142  History  of  St.  Pa7(/'s   Church. 

Under  his  auspices  the  present  stone  church  edifice  was  erected,  in  1S51.  It  is 
situated  on  the. lot  bounded  by  Erie,  Church  and  Pearl  streets.  The  lot  is  triangular 
in  shape,  the  apex  towards  Main  Street,  and  the  edifice  is  cruciform,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  there  being  no  south  transept.  Such  is  the  beauty  of  the  design,  having  an 
entrance  from  each  of  the  three  streets,  that,  seen  from  any  point,  the  part  presented 
to  the  view  appears  to  be  the  front. 

The  greatest  length  of  the  edifice  is  175  feet,  and  the  greatest  width  94  feet.  It 
is  divided  as  follows:  Nave,  interior,  length  84  feet,  width  59  feet  ;  transept,  length 
49  feet,  width  2S  feet ;  chancel,  length  2S  feet,  width  24  feet  ;  vestry-room,  length 
14  feet,  width  12  feet.  The  tower,  at  the  junction  of  Erie  and  Pearl  streets,  is  of  the 
following  dimensions  :  Exterior  length  40  feet ;  width,  39  feet ;  and  the  interior  is  13 
feet  square.  The  entire  height  from  the  base  line  to  the  spire  cross  is  about  274  feet, 
being  but  little,  if  any,  less  than  that  of  Trinity  Church,  New  York. 

The  church  possesses  a  fine  chime  of  ten  bells,  in  the  large  tower,  and  a  single  bell 
in  the  small  tower,  costing  in  all  about  $5,000.  The  spire  is  octagon,  and  there  are 
large  louver  windows  in  the  belfry,  eighteen  feet  high  to  the  apex  of  the  arches. 
The  smaller  tower,  on  Church  Street,  is  of  the  following  dimensions  :  Base,  16  feet 
square  ;  height  of  the  tower  section,  76  feet  ;  and  of  the  spire,  32  feet. 

The  walls  of  the  chancel  end  are  43  feet,  from  the  base  line  to  the  top  of  the 
cornice,  and  to  the  apex,  67  feet  ;  on  the  Erie  Street  front  41  feet,  and  on  Pearl 
Street  40  feet.  The  nave  is  53  feet  high  on  both  sides,  and  to  the  extreme  of  the 
apex,  72  feet.  The  chancel  window  is  a  Gothic  lancet-triplet,  2S  feet  wide  and  39 
feet  to  the  apex  of  the  arch,  and  is  filled  with  fine,  stained  glass.  The  roof  is 
an  open  timbered  one  of  beautiful  design,  supported  by  two  rows  of  large  Gothic 
columns.  The  windows  are  all  of  the  lancet  form,  filled  with  stained  glass.  In  the 
basement  is  a  Sunday-School  room,  also  used  as  a  chapel,  with  the  entrance  from 
Pearl  Street  ;  and  in  another  part  is  a  receiving  vault  for  the  dead.  The  exterior 
of  the  wall  is  laid  with  Medina  red  stone,  and  the  interior  with  limestone  and 
rubble  work.  The  walls  in  some  places  are  thickly  overgrown  with  luxuriant,  creep- 
ing ivy. 

The  interior  walls  are  decorated  with  genuine  fresco  work,  the  design  being 
burnt  in  on  wet  plaster,  a  method  of  work  very  uncommon,  as  yet,  in  the  United 
States.  The  sittings  accommodate  about  1,200  persons,  and  the  furniture  through- 
out is  of  solid  black  walnut.  The  chancel  stalls  are  massive  and  richly  carved, 
with  Gothic  canopies  and  finials.  The  reredos,  also  of  carved  walnut,  is  beautifully 
decorated  in  gold  and  colors.  St.  Paul's  is  regarded  as  the  Cathedral  Church  of 
the  diocese,  and  contains  the  bishop's  chair,  which  faces  the  nave  at  the  entrance  to 
the  chancel  ;  it  is  similar  to  the  stalls  in  design  and  workmanship,  although  on  a 
larger  scale. 


History  of  St.  PanVs  Church.  143 

Among  the  different  gifts  to  the  church  is  a  beautiful  eagle  lectern,  of  polished 
wrought  brass  and  a  memorial  Litany  desk,  also  of  brass.  The  church  has  two  fine 
organs,  made  by  Hook  &  Hastings  of  Boston  ;  the  larger  one,  in  the  organ  loft  at  the 
west  end  of  the  nave,  is  used  for  the  chorus  choir  at  the  morning  service  ;  and  the 
smaller  one,  in  the  chancel,  furnishes  the  music  for  the  surpliced  choir  at  the  afternoon 
service.  The  organ  loft  will  accommodate  a  full  orchestra  and  a  chorus  of  sixty 
voices,  and  the  beautiful  rendering  of  the  music,  especially  at  the  high  festivals  of 
the  church,  is  well  known. 

The  foundation  was  commenced  September  3,  1849.  The  corner-stone  was  laid 
by  Bishop  De  Lancey,  June  12,  1850,  and  the  edifice  was  consecrated  by  him,  October 
22,  1851,  but  was  not  fully  completed  until  about  the  year  1873. 

It  has  cost  something  over  $160,000,  but  this  sum  represents  only  a  part  of  what 
the  cost  of  such  an  edifice  would  be  at  the  present  time. 

The  whole  work  may  be  justly  considered  as  a  fitting  monument  to  the  untiring 
perseverance,  zeal  and  industry  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton,  the  rector,  who  witnessed 
the  laying  of  the  first  foundation  stone,  the  laying  of  the  last  stone  on  the  tall  spire  of 
the  main  tower  and  the  erection  of  the  gilded  cross  thereon.  The  style  of  the  archi- 
tecture is  early  English  Gothic  ;  the  architect  was  the  late  Richard  Upjohn,  Sr.  The 
structure  has  justly  been  called  "  Upjohn's  Masterpiece,"  and  is  considered  one  of  the 
finest  specimens  of  Gothic  architecture  in  the  United  States,  the  spire  of  the  main 
tower  being  especially  remarkable  for  its  grace  and  symmetry. 

Dr.  Shelton  resigned  the  rectorship  of  St.  Paul's,  and  was  made  honorary  rector, 
January  n,  1881  ;  he  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  John  W.  Brown,  D.  D.,  who  was 
elected  by  the  vestry  April  1,  18S2,  and  assumed  the  duties  of  his  office  May  7, 
1882.     St.  Paul's  parish  is  entirely  free  from  debt." 


At  a  special  meeting  of  the  vestry,  at  the  residence  of  William  H. 
Walker,  on  October  n,  1883,  in  the  absence  of  the  rector,  Charles  AY. 
Evans,  senior  warden,  took  the  chair,  and  stated  that  the  meeting  had 
been  called  for  the  purpose  of  taking  suitable  action  on  the  occasion  of 
the  death  of  the  honorary  rector,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton,  who  died  in 
Bridgeport,  Conn.,  on  Thursday,  October  11,  1883,  quietly  amid  the 
scenes  of  his  earliest  childhood,  and  surrounded  by  a  few  of  his 
nearest  relatives,  in  the  old  homestead  in  which  he  was  born,  over 
eighty- five  years  ago.     The  following  preamble  and  resolutions  were 


144  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

offered,  and,  on  motion,  unanimously  adopted.     They  were  prepared 
by  Mr.  Stringer,  one  of  the  vestry  : 

Whereas,  By  the  decease  of  the  Rev.  William  Shelton,  D.  D.,  honorary  rector  of 
St.  Paul's  Church,  we,  in  the  Providence  of  God,  are  deprived  of  one  who  for  more 
than  fifty  years  was  the  rector  of  this  parish,  and  who  was  ever  foremost  in  promoting 
its  welfare, 

The  rector,  wardens  and  vestry  not  only  sharing  the  common  grief,  but  lament- 
ing their  own  peculiar  loss,  desire  to  record  their  high  estimate  of  his  life  ;  and  do, 
therefore, 

Resolve,  First,  that  in  the  death  of  our  revered  and  life  long  friend,  the  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Shelton,  D.  D.,  we  mourn  a  character  of  high  Christian  excellence,  of  exalted 
nobleness  and  purity,  of  sterling  honor,  of  self-sacrificing  generosity,  of  unflinching 
courage,  of  singular  affectionateness,  and  of  a  rare  and  tender  constancy. 

Springing  naturally  from  such  a  character  was  his  preeminent  fearlessness  in  preach- 
ing and  advocating  the  principles  of  the  Church,  in  whose  doctrines,  worship,  polity, 
and  apostolical  constitution  he  most  thoroughly  believed,  so  that  we  can  most  truly 
say  that  his  trumpet  gave  no  uncertain  sound. 

So  evident  was  his  spirit  of  habitual  and  earnest  prayerfulness  to  those  who  were 
blessed  with  his  intimate  friendship  that  it  seemed  to  them  that  he  always  felt  the 
presence  of  God  at  all  times  and  in  all  places. 

The  loving  and  gentle  elements  were  so  closely  woven  with  his  bolder  and  stronger 
traits  that  while  he  upheld  and  strengthened  with  his  counsel  he  never  failed  to  sympa- 
thize with  his  heart. 

His  life  was  given  to  the  parish  of  St.  Paul's,  and  the  strong  cords  of  affection 
which  united  him  to  it  were  interwoven  with  the  very  fibers  of  his  being,  and  for  its 
welfare  he  was  willing  to  sacrifice  his  all. 

He  was  always  first  in  the  alleviation  of  suffering,  always  the  most  sympathizing 
of  friends,  and  people  in  every  walk  of  life  looked  upon  him  with  veneration. 

In  the  character  thus  fully  rounded  and  well  balanced  there  was  a  native  grandeur 
and  strength  of  manhood,  self-consecrated  to  God,  which  gave  us  the  noble  life  of  a 
man  true  and  faithful  to  the  end. 

Resolved,  Therefore,  secondly,  that  we  tender  to  the  immediate  relatives  of  the 
late  Dr.  Shelton  the  assurance  of  our  profound  and  affectionate  sympathy  ;  that  a  copy 
of  these  resolutions  be  transmitted  to  them,  and  that  they  be  recorded  on  the  register 
of  the  parish,  and  also  be  published  in  the  city  and  church  papers. 

The  remains  of  the  late  rector  were  brought  from  Bridgeport  to 
Buffalo,  being    met  at   Batavia  by  a  committee  of   the   vestry,  who 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  145 

escorted  them  to  the  old  rectory  on  Pearl  Street,  on  October  12th, 
while  the  bells  of  St.  Paul's  were  tolled. 

The  remains  lay  in  state  in  the  chancel  of  the  church  from  10  until 
4  o'clock  on  Saturday,  October  13th.  During  the  six  hours  nearly 
3,000  people  looked  upon  his  face  ;  the  largest  attendance  was  at 
noon,  but  during  the  entire  time  the  average  was  about  400  an  hour 
—  a  fact  that  tells  more  eloquently  than  words  of  the  love  and  esteem 
in  which  the  venerable  rector  was  held  by  his  own  people  and  the  citi- 
zens at  large. 

About  half  past  nine  o'clock  Dr.  H.  R.  Hopkins,  Dr.  A.  R.  David- 
son, Messrs.  J.  V.  Carr,  M.  S.  Burns,  H.  R.  Howland,  S.  G.  Walker 
and  H.  H.  Baker  bore  the  casket  from  the  rectory  on  Pearl  Street  to 
the  chancel  of  the  church,  where  it  was  deposited  on  the  bier.  Clothed 
in  full  ecclesiastical  robes  of  white,  the  face  wearing  a  calm  and  life- 
like expression,  the  remains  lay  in  a  massive  casket  of  English  oak, 
highly  polished  but  without  ornamentation,  the  handles  of  polished 
brass.  The  heavy  cover,  beveled  into  the  shape  of  a  cross,  and  bearing 
a  polished  brass  plate  with  this  inscription  : 

REV.  WILLIAM  SHELTON,  D.  D. 

FOR    52    YEARS 
RECTOR    OF    ST.    PAUL'S    CHURCH, 

Born  September  ir,  1798, 
Died  October  11,  1S83, 

was  removed  and  placed  at  one  side,  affording  a  full-length  view  of 
the  body. 

The  following  members  of  the  Guild  composed  the  guard  of  honor 

in  charge  of  the   remains  while   lying  in   state:     From    10  to    12 

Messrs.  A.  Porter  Thompson,  Samuel  G.  Walker,  Millard  S.  Burns, 
Thomas  G.  Perkins,  James  Sweeney  and  John  V.  Carr.  From  12  to 
2 —  Messrs.  George  J.  Sicard,  Sheldon  T.  Viele,  O.  H.  P.  Champlin, 
William  Y.  Warren  and  Dr.  M.  D.  Mann.  From  2  to  4  —  Messrs. 
Howard  H.  Baker,  Stephen  Walker,  D.  C.  Godwin  and  Dr.  G.  Hunter 
Bartlett. 


1 4^  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

At  quarter  past  4  o'clock  the  remains  were  borne  from  the  church 
to  the  rectory  by  the  following  gentlemen  :  Dr.  Henry  R.  Hopkins, 
D.  C.  Godwin,  S.  G.  Walker,  Howard  H.  Baker,  Henry  R.  Howland, 
G.  Hunter  Bartlett  and  Stephen  Walker. 

The  following  is  from  a  communication  published  in  the  "  Kalen- 
dar,"  contributed  by  Mr.  G.  A.  Stringer  : 

From  10  A.  M.  to  4  P.  M.  of  Saturday,  October  13th,  the  remains  lay  in  state  in 
the  church,  upon  a  purple  bier,  upon  which  loving  hands  had  strewn  palms  and  flowers, 
symbolical  of  victory  over  sin  and  death,  and  of  the  life  and  glory  of  the  resurrection. 
The  form  of  the  venerable  clergyman,  majestic  even  in  death,  was  clothed  in  ecclesi- 
astical robes,  his  countenance  tranquil  with  "the  depicted  triumph  of  the  soul  after 
victory."  During  this  time  a  guard  of  honor  was  in  attendance,  and  the  body  was 
viewed  by  over  three  thousand  people. 

Dr.  Shelton  loved  the  poor  ;  he  sought,  pitied  and  comforted  them,  and  while  he 
taught  them  he  relieved  their  material  wants.  'Widespread  were  his  acts  of  mercy, 
and  by  no  means  limited  to  those  within  the  pale  of  his  own  communion.  His  ear 
was  ever  open  to  the  story  of  suffering,  and,  like  his  blessed  Master,  he  went  about 
doing  good.  In  the  beautiful  words  of  his  successor,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Brown,  beloved 
by  him,  beloved  by  us  his  care  and  charge:  "  Had  you  seen  yesterday  the  throng  of 
mourners  who  passed  through  the  aisles  of  the  church,  to  have  one  last  look  on  the 
serene,  upturned  face,  as  he  lay  so  still  and  calm  in  his  chancel,  you  would  have  noted 
the  scant  garment,  the  home-spun  dress,  the  care-worn  face,  which  spoke  of  a  loving 
gratitude  to  him  as  benefactor  and  friend." 

On  Sunday  afternoon,  October  14th,  at  half  past  two,  the  bells  sent  forth  a  sor- 
rowful peal,  and  the  casket  of  solid  English  oak,  the  top  of  which  was  beveled  into 
the  form  of  a  cross,  was  carried  from  the  rectory.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Brown,  with  nine 
of  the  Episcopal  clergy  of  the  city  and  vicinity,  awaited  it  at  the  entrance  of  the 
church,  with  the  surpliced  choir  of  fifty-two  boys  and  twelve  men.  Preceded  by 
these  the  melancholy  procession  entered  the  house  of  God,  while  from  the  great  organ 
came  the  mournful  strains  of  Beethoven's  "Funeral  March."  The  faithful  physicians 
of  the  reverend  deceased  followed  the  clergy,  then  came  the  wardens,  then  the  casket, 
borne  by  the  members  of  the  vestry,  and  last  of  all  came  the  mourners.  As  the 
solemn  words,  "  I  am  the  resurrection  and  the  life,  saith  the  Lord,"  fell  upon  the 
ears  of  the  hushed  and  waiting  throng,  the  sacred  burden  was  borne  through  the 
central  aisle  and  deposited  upon  the  bier  in  front  of  the  altar  rails.  The  services 
were  most  impressively  rendered,  the  Rev.  Archdeacon  McMurray  of  Niagara,  Ont., 
the  life-long  friend  of  the  Kev.  Dr.  Shelton,  reading  the  lesson.     The  sermon  of  the 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  lArf 

Rev.  Dr.  Brown,  from  the  text,  "  Herein  is  that  saying  true,  One  soweth  and  an- 
other reapeth,"  was  an  eloquent  tribute  to  the  memory  of  his  venerable  predecessor. 

After  the  singing  of  the  inspired  words,  "  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth,  and 
that  he  shall  stand  at  the  latter  day  upon  the  earth,"  the  services  at  the  church  closed 
with  the  hymns  "  Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee  "  and  "  The  Strife  is  O'er."  Then,  pre- 
ceded by  the  clergy  and  chorus  choir,  the  casket  was  borne  through  the  church.  The 
door  reached,  the  surpliced  choir  and  the  clergy  formed  a  long  line  on  either  side  of 
the  steps,  and  waited  with  bowed  heads  while  the  sons  of  the  church  carried  from  it 
the  lifeless  form  of  him  who  was  for  half  a  century  its  faithful  rector. 

The  last  sad  rites  were  performed  over  the  open  grave,  at  Forest  Lawn  Cemetery, 
in  which  peaceful  spot  all  that  was  mortal  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  was  laid  by  the 
side  of  his  beloved  wife,  Mrs.  Lucretia  Stanley  Shelton,  who  passed  away  the  6th  of 
September,  1882. 

Sadly  those  who  loved  the  departed  in  life  looked  upon  the  fresh  mound,  covered 

with  white  flowers,  and  then,  with  heavy  hearts,  turned  silently  away. 

"  Far  out  of  sight,  while  sorrows  still  enfold  us, 
Lies  the  fair  country  where  our  hearts  abide  ; 
And  of  its  bliss  is  naught  more  wondrous  told  us, 
Then  these  few  words,  '  I  shall  be  satisfied.'  '' 

The  following  extracts  are  from  the  close  of  the  sermon  preached 
by  the  rector,  the  Rev.  John  W.  Brown,  D.  D.,  at  the  funeral  of  Dr. 
Shelton  : 

"Duty  was  not  a  word  of  sentiment  with  the  aged  priest,  but  an  im- 
perative command,  and  in  the  vigor  of  his  manhood  was  the  inspiration  to  action  and 
zealous  work  for  the  Master.  In  defence  it  made  him  as  adamant.  For  progress  it 
was  synonymous  with  endurance.  The  early  struggles  of  the  parish,  of  which  he  him- 
self has  spoken  in  his  semi-centennial  sermon,  tell  us  of  this  invincibility  of  purpose 

to  work  out  the  design  of  his  life  in  the  fear  of  God The  energy  and 

positiveness  which  characterized  the  outer  life,  in  relation  to  the  well-being  of  this 
parish,  found  also  its  synonym  in  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  Saints,  which  he  up- 
held in  such  undoubted  constancy  as  against  the  ephemeral  opinions  of  the  day  and 
the  skeptical  tendencies  of  the  age.  It  required  a  strong  faith  to  plant  the  Church  in 
this  village  in  its  untutored  childhood  ;  and  it  required  as  strong  a  faith  to  uphold  the 
truth  as  it  is  in  Christ,  amid  cultured  and  educated  infidelity.  On  the  faith  of  the 
Church,  and  in  the  Church,  he  built  his  own  character,  and  sought  to  form  the  charac- 
ters committed  to  his  priestly  and  pastoral  care.  The  pastorate  of  half  a  century  with- 
out this  would  not  have  left  to-day,  when  death  ends  it,  this  which  we  now  so  richly 
enjoy.  And  I  am  bold  to  avow,  with  the  thought  of  human  infirmity  which  belongs 
to  us  all,  that  to  this,  the  prominent  trait  in  the  character  of  our  sleeping  father,  we 


148  History  of  St.  PauVs  Church. 

owe  more  than  to  aught  else  the  inheritance  of  his  success.  Strong  in  this  he  was 
strong  in  God,  and  never  faltered  in  his  trust  in  the  Lord  God  Almighty. 

"  But  I  would  speak  yet  more  intimately  of  our  dear  father.  Underneath  the  vig- 
orous grasp  of  a  strong  friendship  was  all  the  tenderness  of  a  womanly  sympathy  — 
and  none  felt  more  the  touch  of  human  sorrow  than  he.  He  reminded  me  of  the 
strong  tree  whose  mighty  trunk  held  itself  erect  against  every  beating  storm  in  winter, 
only  to  shelter  the  tender-budded  fruit  to  bless  mankind  when  its  leaves  would  fall  in 
autumn.  His  benevolence  was  no  garland  of  praise  with  him.  His  very  sternness 
seemed  to  rebuke  thanksgiving,  and  served  to  cover  in  the  sweet  budding  benevolence 
of  his  large  heart  of  charity.  Oh,  friends,  you  know  not  what  secret  streams  of  loving, 
tender  sympathy  flowed  out  from  the  spirit  under  this  rock  character,  which  carried 
refreshment  to  the  weary  and  relief  to  the  poor  !  .  .  .  .So  would  I  speak  of  his 
simplicity  —  which  as  a  child  spake  honest  words,  and  knew  no  guile  ;  of  his  simple 
faith,  which  trusted  as  strongly  as  it  believed  ;  of  his  humility,  which  would  sit  at  the 
feet  of  a  teacher  to  learn  heavenly  wisdom.  I  knew  him  somewhat  as  no  one  else 
could  know  him  in  these  pastoral  relations  —  and  to-day  the  faces  of  the  patient  In- 
gersoll  and  the  believing  Shelton  come  to  me  in  an  holy  remembrance,  as  I  recall  them 
in  that  heavenly  Communion  which  preceded  the  translation  of  the  former  almost  from 
the  sick-bed  of  the  latter.  Thus  I  knew  him,  and  when  sore-smitten  with  illness,  and 
death  seemed  near  approaching,  he  found  inexpressible  joy  in  that  holy  Sacrament,  and 
peacefully  awaited  the  coming  of  the  messenger. 

"  The  warrior  has  hung  his  implements  of  warfare  on  the  walls  of  his  house,  and 
life's  battle  is  over.     He  has  fought  the  good  fight,  and  we  enter  on  the  glories  of  his 

victories The  traveler  has  ended  his  journey,  and  has  laid  him  down  to 

rest,  for  he  has  finished  his  course Let  us  catch  the  refrain  from  that 

splendid  life,  and  seek  to  have  its  tones  of  right  and  duty  make  an  holy  harmony  with- 
in our  souls."     .... 

Dr.  Shelton's  will  was  duly  admitted  to  probate  by  the  Surro- 
gate of  Erie  County,  N.  Y.  His  personal  estate  was  inventoried  at 
$52,000,  and  his  real  estate  was  valued  at  $30,000.  It  is  remarkable 
that  he  should  have  accumulated  such  a  large  estate,*  considering  that 
his  salary  from  St.  Paul's  Church  was  never  a  large  one,  and  that  he 
was  a  liberal  giver  to  many  church  objects,  and  often  loaned  sums  of 
money,  quite  large  in  the  aggregate,  but  which  were  not  repaid.  He 
was  by  no  means  close  in  his  household  expenses,  and  entertained 
much  company,  particularly  the  clergy.     While   he  was  liberal,  he  was 

*  See  note  at  foot  of  page  82. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  149 

never  extravagant.  He  said  in  his  will  that  he  humbly  gave  hearty 
and  grateful  acknowledgments  to  the  great  Almighty  Author  of  his 
being,  who,  most  unexpectedly  and  without  effort  or  seeking  of  his 
own,  and,  as  it  were,  by  a  miracle  of  His  providence,  bestowed  upon 
him  the  property  he  possessed.  He  bequeathed  to  his  wife  $4,000, 
which  was  included  in  his  estate,  but  which  he  had  received 
from  her  in  an  annuity  belonging  to  her.  He  also  bequeathed  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  McKee,  the  faithful,  trusty  and  much  regarded  person,  who 
for  more  than  thirty  years  had  been  the  conscientious  and  invalu- 
able housekeeper  of  his  wife  and  himself,  $7,000,  and  says  he  did 
this  in  testimony  of  his  thorough  respect  for  her  irreproachable 
conduct  and  character,  for  her  invaluable  and  skillful  services  during 
the  period  of  so  many  years.  He  bequeathed  to  one  of  his  nieces  and 
to  the  widow  of  one  of  his  brothers,  the  homestead  and  parsonage  in 
the  town  of  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  which  was  used  by  his  father,  and  in 
which  his  father  lived  for  forty  years,  and  the  land  adjoining,  being 
some  nineteen  acres.  It  was  to  this  old-fashioned  homestead  that 
Dr.  Shelton  made  a  pilgrimage  nearly  every  summer.  There  he  was 
born,  and  on  it  he  expended  large  sums  of  money.  He  left  Buffalo 
for  this  place,  the  last  time,  July  23,  1883,  and  died  there  October  11, 
1883.  Dr.  Shelton  bequeathed  large  sums  to  his  kinsmen,  to  col- 
leges,* to  church  institutions  and  to  personal  friends.  He  bequeathed 
$4,000  to  his  own  beloved  St.  Paul's  Church,  to  be  used  by  the  vestry 
at  its  own  discretion,  and  $2,000,  the  interest  of  which  was  to  be  used  in 
ringing  and  chiming  the  bells.  In  his  will  he  says  he  appoints  his  two 
long  honored  and  trusted  friends,  Charles  W.  Evans  and  William  H. 
Walker,  executors  of  his  last  will  and  testament,  and  left  them  $1,000 
in  trust  to  erect  in  St.  Paul's  Church  a   memorial  to   his  good  wife. 

*  It  may  be  of  interest  to  state  that  Dr.  Shelton  received  his  Doctorate  degree  from 
Hobart  College  in  183S  ;  in  1843  he  was  elected  a  Trustee  of  Hobart  College,  and 
continued  to  act  in  that  office  until  the  time  of  his  death.  In  1S25.  while  temporarily- 
located  at  Red  Hook,  N.  Y.,  he  received  the  honorary  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  from 
Columbia  College,  New  York  City.  He  was  graduated  from  the  General  Theolog- 
ical Seminary  in  the  class  of  1S23. 


150  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

They  determined  to  pay  the  amount  towards  the  proposed  new  altar. 
He  also  left  them  $1,000  for  a  suitable  monument  over  the 
graves  of  himself  and  wife.  In  1887,  the  executors  erected  over  each 
grave  substantial  horizontal  tombs  with  suitable  inscriptions  —  over  his 
grave,  commemorating  his  birth  and  death,  and  the  duration  of  his 
rectorship  of  St.  Paul's  ;  and  over  her's,  the  day  of  her  birth,  July  21, 
1798,  and  of  her  death,  September  6,  1882.  They  also  erected  a  tomb- 
stone over  the  grave  of  Daniel  Wadsworth  Lewis,  born  in  1766,  and 
died  in  1837.  He  was  the  uncle  of  Mrs.  Shelton,  and  the  guardian  of 
her  younger  years,  and  was  a  prominent  and  consistent  churchman  in 
Western  New  York,  and  occasionally  read  the  church  service  for 
Dr.  Shelton.  The  three  graves  are  in  the  lot  in  Forest  Lawn  Cemetery 
in  Buffalo,  originally  purchased  by  Dr.  Shelton. 

The  executors  made  their  final  accounting  of  Dr.  Shelton's  estate 
to  the  Surrogate  of  Erie  County  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  in  October,  1886, 
and  he  decreed  their  commissions  to  be  nearly  $800,  which  sum 
was  paid  to  them  out  of  the  assets  of  the  estate  ;  they,  however,  con- 
tributed more  than  that  amount  to  the  memorial  window  in  the  chancel 
and  to  other  parish  purposes. 

November  10,  1S83,  the  vestry  placed  the  former  rectory  on  Pearl 
Street,  in  charge  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Brown  and  the  wardens. 

The  following  extracts  are  from  the  sermon  preached  in  St.  Paul's 
Cathedral  on  All  Saints'  Day,  November  1,  1883,  to  commemorate  the 
life  and  services  of  the  Rev.  William  Shelton,  D.  D.,  by  the  Rt.  Rev. 
A.  Cleveland  Coxe,  D.  D.,  Bishop  of  Western  New  York.  It  is  taken 
from  the  memorial  volume  printed  in  1883  :* 

"  There  was  something   in  his  nature  wholly  unostentatious  and  at  war 
with  display,  yet  he  valued  the  good  will  of  his  neighbors  and  prized  very  justly  their 
esteem.     His  downright  common  sense  accepted  the  maxim  — 
"  An  honest  man's  the  noblest  work  of  God." — 
and  that  is  what  he  aimed  to  be.     He  was  accused  of  a  certain  roughness  of  demeanor  ; 
enemies  might  even  call  it  rudeness  ;  his  friends  credited  it,  with  reason,  to  his  manly 

*  The  memorial  volume  above  referred  to,  was  compiled,  with  most  affectionate  care,  by  Mr. 
George  Alfred  Stringer,  one  of  the  vestry,  under  the  direction  of  the  vestry,  in  1883.  It  contains, 
in  addition  to  Bishop  Coxe's  sermon,  extracts  from  which  are  given  above,  the  full  text  of  Dr. 


History  of  St.  Paul 's  Church.  i  5 1 

frankness,  his  sincere  outspoken  truthfulness,  his  utter  lack  of  artifices  and  of  the 
finesse  that  conceals  the  real  motives  of  the  moment.  By  friends  he  was  often  com- 
pared with  the  great  Dr.  Johnson  in  this  respect,  nor  was  the  comparison  wholly  fan- 
ciful. Of  that  grand  old  man  of  letters  he  was  a  great  admirer ;  he  fully  sympathized 
with  his  habits  of  thought,  and  he  made  many  of  Dr.  Johnson's  maxims  his  own. 
And  his  natural  instincts  resembled  those  of  that  conscientious  moralist,  of  whom  it 
has  been  said  so  truly  :  '  Men  have  cut  him  up  and  turned  him  inside  out,  but  in  him 
is  found  no  lie.'  Just  such  another,  in  this  particular,  was  our  venerated  Shelton. 
If  at  times  he  uttered  some  rough  word,  he  was  prompt  to  take  it  back,  and  in  mak- 
ing amends  he  was  most  noble.  I  have  seen  the  tear  start  in  his  eye  when  I  have 
ventured  to  say,  'Doctor,  you  have  hurt  that  young  brother's  feelings.'  All  who 
knew  him  intimately  know  well  how  he  could  overcome  even  his  strongest  prejudices 
when  once  convinced  that  they  were  not  just.  His  prejudices  were,  it  is  true,  charac- 
teristic and  very  strong.  Like  Dr.  Johnson,  he  was  '  a  good  hater  ; '  but  when  he  was 
warned  not  to  hate  men,  but  only  their  vices  and  meanness,  he  would  warmly  respond  : 
'Oh,  God  forbid  !  I  would  not  do  any  man  an  injury  for  all  the  world.'  Softened 
by  time  and  suffering,  these  kindly  elements  grew  riper  and  more  marked  as  he  drew 
near  the  heavenly  gates,  till  at  last  he  seemed  to  be  '  in  perfect  charity  with  the 
world,'  to  forgive  and  forget  if  he  had  been  injured,  and  to  be  deeply  sorry  if  he  had 
misjudged.  Such  were  his  infirmities  then,  but  they  were  nobler  than  some  men's  polite- 
ness. He  never  fawned  before  a  man's  face  and  then  stabbed  him  in  the  back.  But, 
as  it  is  said  that  the  world  can  better  put  up  with  a  flattering  rogue  than  with  '  a 
plain,  blunt  man,'  I  have  often  thought  that  these  peculiarities  furnish  a  test  of  his 
real  greatness.  They  could  not  have  been  tolerated  unless  more  than  balanced  by 
conspicuous  merits.  They  were  such  as  would  have  been  fatal  to  the  success  in  life 
of  almost  any  other  man.  There  is  something  grand  in  the  character  which,  in  spite 
of  them,  attracted  such  friendships,  commanded  such  universal  respect,  and  which  for 
fifty  years  retained  the  strong  unwavering  attachment  and  devotion  of  his  parishioners. 
To  their  credit,  they  rightly  estimated  the  man  who  gave  his  life  to  their  holiest 
interests.  And  they  knew  the  other  side.  His  dignified  features,  his  noble  form  and 
bearing,  his  somewhat  stern  expression  melting  away  very  often  into  a  smile  of  extra- 
ordinary sweetness  and  even  childlike  simplicity,  were  all  associated  with  something 
that  belonged  to  Homer's  heroes — his  'Kings  of  Men.'  .  .  .  This  honorable 
integrity  was  rendered  yet  more  conspicuous  by  his  large-hearted  beneficence.  I 
never  supposed  him  to  be  a  wealthy  man,  and  yet  I  was  often  amazed  when  accident 
revealed  to  me  his  private  acts  of  munificence,  some  of  them  hardly  to  be  expected 


Brown's  fine  sermon  preached  at  the  funeral,  resolutions  of  the  vestry,  St.  Paul's  Guild,  the  stand- 
ing committee  of  the  diocese,  and  the  Deanery  of  Buffalo,  and  much  valuable  and  interesting- 
information  concerning;  the  life  and  work  of  the  late  rector. 


I52  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

even  from  the  most  affluent.  In  this  he  was  memorably  an  example  to  his  flock.  To 
the  poor  he  was  a  father  indeed.  Down  into  the  foul  cellar  and  up  the  creaking  stair- 
way he  went  '  seeking  goodly  pearls' — seeking  to  save  souls  ;  and  this  he  did,  caring 
also  for  the  bodies  and  for  all  the  wants  of  the  poor.  '  In  bestowing  he  was  princely.' 
Once  or  twice  I  remonstrated  with  him  on  his  almost  indiscriminate  bounty.  Then  he 
said  something  like  this:  '  Gpd  has  been  good  to  me  ;  I  never  sought  to  be  rich,  nor 
practiced  arts  of  gain,  but  somehow  there  has  come  to  me  more  than  I  ever  dreamed 
of  possessing  ;  I  ought  to  give  accordingly.'  .  .  .  His  competency  was  the 
source,  to  him,  of  quiet  comfort,  such  as  any  good  man  may  enjoy  without  vulgar 
pride  of  purse.  He  congratulated  himself  that  he  was  not  likely  to  become  dependent. 
'I  can  go,'  he  said,  'to  my  old  home  in  Connecticut  if  I  find  myself  no  longer  useful, 
and  end  my  days  there  in  peace.'  But  he  clung  to  life  with  a  strong  desire  to  be 
useful  to  the  last.  And  so  he  was,  for  to  the  last  day  of  his  residence  in  Buffalo  he 
ministered  to  the  poor,  and  baptized  their  babes,  and  gave  them  bread.     .     .     . 

"  You  gray-haired  men,  who  knew  him  longest  and  best,  feel,  at  this  moment,  that 
he  is  with  you,  and  will  be  ever  enshrined  in  your  hearts  till  they  cease  to  beat.  You 
that  are  younger  and  have  shared  his  later  anxieties  and  toils,  have  proved  through  all 
these  last  scenes  of  tender  and  filial  duty  how  truly  he  lives  in  your  warmest  affec- 
tions. Your  children  that  gazed  upon  his  face  in  the  coffin,  and  that  saw  thou- 
sands crowding  for  a  last  look  at  the  man  of  God,  that  solemn  day  of  his  burial, 
can  never  forget  him  ;  and  they,  to  their  children,  will  tell  of  the  old  pastor  who  taught 
them  the  creed,  so  that  yet  another  fifty  years  shall  find  his  name  almost  as  fresh 
as  it  is  to-day.  The  man  of  God  is  with  us  still,  not  only  because  this  noble  church  is 
his  monument  ;  not  only  because,  when  the  passing  stranger  looks  up  to  the  cross  upon 
that  heaven-pointing  spire,  he  will  be  told  who  built  it  —  but  because  he  has  built 
living  stones  into  the  temple  of  his  Master  ;  because  these  are  his  enduring  record  ; 
because  on  these  tablets  of  the  heart  he  has  written  the  name  of  his  Redeemer,  and  so 
immortalized  his  own." 

1884. 

January  11,  1884,  the  finance  committee  reported  that  the  parish 
had  borrowed  $2,000  to  meet  the  expenses  of  fitting  up  the  Sunday- 
School  room  in  the  basement  of  the  church.  March  8,  1S84,  the  com- 
mittee reported  that  the  cost  of  fitting  up  and  enlarging  the  Sunday- 
School  room,  including  carpets,  new  seats  and  other  furniture,  had 
been  $2,617.96. 


2H 

3  a 


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12    » 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  153 

At  the  annual  election  on  Easter  Monday,  April  14,  1884,  Charles 
W.  Evans  and  William  H.  Walker  were  elected  wardens,  and  John 
Pease,  A.  Porter  Thompson,  James  R.  Smith,  Henry  R.  Hopkins, 
A.  R.  Davidson,  Robert  P.  Wilson,  George  A.  Stringer  and  Albert  J. 
Barnard,  vestrymen  ;  and  at  a  meeting  of  the  vestry  on  May  2,  1884, 
T.  F.  Welch  was  appointed  clerk,  and  J.  W.  Sanford  treasurer,  and 
the  usual  tax  of  twenty  per  cent,  was  levied  on  the  pews. 

July  5,  1884,  the  vestry  placed  the  rectory  on  Pearl  Street  in  the 
possession  of  St.  Paul's  Church  Guild,  to  be  known  as  the  Guild 
House,  the  vestry  to  resume  possession  whenever  they  might  deem  it  in 
the  interest  of  the  parish  to  do  so.  It  was  understood  that  the  family 
of  the  sexton  might  still  live  in  the  portion  then  occupied  by  them. 

John  L.  Kimberly  died  December  21,  1884,  in  the  eighty-sixth  year 
of  his  age.  He  was  connected  with  Sheldon  Thompson  in  business, 
and  with  him  was  one  of  the  earliest  parishioners  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 
Mr.  Kimberly  was  born  in  Derby,  Conn.,  January  20,  1799,  and  came 
to  Black  Rock  in  1817,  and  in  1826  married  Miss  Eliza  A.  Hawley  of 
that  place,  whom  he  survived  some  twenty-one  years.  Mr.  Kimberly 
lived  within  the  limits  of  what  is  now  the  City  of  Buffalo  nearly  seventy- 
five  years.  He  was  a  life-long  and  attached  friend  of  the  late  Dr. 
Shelton,  and  during  the  building  of  the  church  edifice  was  a  vestry- 
man and  one  of  the  building  committee,  and  a  liberal  contributor  to  its 
erection.  His  sons  and  daughters  were  all  parishioners,  and  were  all 
useful  and  efficient  in  parish  work.  One  of  his  daughters,  Miss  Lucy 
Kimberly,  married  the  late  DeWitt  C.  Weed,  and  his  youngest  daughter, 
Miss  Edith  Kimberly,  became  Mrs.  William  H.  Walker. 


1885. 

At  the  annual  election  on  Easter  Monday,  April  6,  1885,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Brown,  the  rector,  presiding,  Charles  W.  Evans  and  William  H. 
Walker  were  elected  wardens,  and  John  Pease,  A.  Porter  Thompson, 


154  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

James  R.  Smith,  A.  R.  Davidson,  Henry  R.  Hopkins,  George  A. 
Stringer,  Robert  P.  Wilson  and  Albert  J.  Barnard,  vestrymen  ;  and  on 
May  i,  1885,  the  vestry  appointed  G.  F.  Hunter  Bartlett  clerk,  and 
James  W.  Sanford  treasurer.  The  bequest  of  $1,000,  by  the  late 
James  D.  Sheppard  to  St.  Paul's  Church,  was  accepted  by  the  vestry, 
the  income  to  be  used  for  charitable  purposes,  under  the  direction  of 
the  rector,  wardens  and  vestrymen.  The  thanks  of  the  vestry  were 
tendered  to  Theodore  F.  Welch  for  his  able  and  faithful  services  for 
the  past  five  years  as  clerk  of  the  vestry.  The  thanks  of  the  vestry  were 
also  extended  to  Mr.  Tucker,  then  about  to  leave  the  city,  for  his  effi- 
cient and  long-continued  services  in  ringing  the  bells  for  the  past 
twenty-five  years.  The  treasurer  reported  that  $35 1  had  been  received 
for  the  past  year  from  the  use  of  the  receiving  vault,  and  the  money 
was  appropriated  for  the  use  of  the  Sunday  School.  July  10,  1885,  Mr. 
Walker,  from  the  committee,  reported  that  the  $1,000,  bequeathed  by 
the  late  James  D.  Sheppard,  and  $100,  accrued  interest  on  it,  had  been 
deposited  in  the  Merchants'  Bank  to  the  credit  of  the  treasurer  of  the 
parish,  at  four  per  cent,  interest. 

September  12,  1885,  Charles  W.  Evans,  as  one  of  the  executors, 
reported  that  the  $4,000  and  $2,000  bequests  of  the  late  William 
Shelton  to  St.  Paul's  Church,  had  been  deposited  in  the  Merchants' 
Bank  in  Buffalo,  at  four  per  cent,  interest.  December  iSth,  the 
vestry  resolved  that  the  memorial  window  to  the  late  Dr.  Shelton  be 
placed  in  the  chancel,  and  that  the  rector  and  wardens  be  a  com- 
mittee to  have  the  work  accomplished.  The  memorial  windows  were 
thereupon  ordered  by  the  committee,  and  the  entire  cost  of  them 
was  paid  by  the  voluntary  contributions  of  the  many  friends  of  the 
late  rector. 

The  rector  reported  that  he  had  appointed  Henry  R.  Howland 
superintendent,  and  William  A.  Joyce  assistant  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  School,  and  Dr.  M.  D.  Mann  to  conduct  the  Bible  class. 

During  the  year  1885  the  Common  Council  of  the  City  of  Buffalo 
ordered  that  no  more  interments  of  the  dead  should  be  made  in  any 


go       f, 

f-    c! 

r 


History  of  St.  Paul 's  Church.  i  5  5 

of  the  receiving  vaults  attached  to  any  church  in  the  city,  as  they 
were  injurious  to  the  health  of  the  living  ;  consequently,  the  receiving 
vault  of  St.  Paul's  was  no  longer  used  for  the  dead. 


1886. 

At  the  annual  election  on  Easter  Monday,  April  26,  1886,  Rev.  Dr. 
Brown,  rector,  presiding,  Charles  W.  Evans  and  William  H.  Walker 
were  elected  wardens,  and  John  Pease,  A.  Porter  Thompson,  James  R. 
Smith,  A.  R.  Davidson,  Henry  R.  Hopkins,  George  A.  Stringer,  Robert 
P.  Wilson  and  Albert  J.  Barnard,  vestrymen. 

May  14,  1886,  the  vestry  reappointed  G.  Hunter  Bartlett  clerk, 
and  James  W.  Sanford  treasurer.  The  treasurer  reported  that  the 
receipts  for  the  year  ending  Easter,  1S86,  were  $11,185  !  disburse- 
ments, $11,100  ;  receipts  from  the  receiving  vault,  $133,  appropriated 
to  the  use  of  the  Sunday  School. 

The  vestry  appropriated  $2,000  from  the  bequest  of  the  late 
Rev.  Dr.  Shelton,  the  said  appropriation  to  be  used  for  the  pur- 
pose of  repointing  the  church  edifice,  and  for  restoring  the  broken 
stone  crosses  and  finials,  and  putting  the  water  conductors  from  the 
roof  in  good  order,  the  work  to  be  done  under  the  superintendence  of 
the  wardens.  The  whole  of  the  said  work  was  accordingly  done,  and 
was  of  much  benefit  to  the  preservation  and  improved  appearance  of 
the  edifice,  which  is  such  a  lasting  monument  to  the  beneficence  of  our 
former  rector.  It  was  proposed  to  sell  the  German  Mission  property 
on  Spruce  Street,  and  to  invest  the  proceeds  in  establishing  a  Mission 
Church  on  Richmond  Avenue  ;  but  after  mature  consideration  the 
plan  was  abandoned,  and  subsequently  the  services  in  the  German 
Mission  were  fully  resumed,  under  the  name  of  St.  Andrew's  Mission 
Church,  under  the  charge  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brent,  one  of  the  assistant 
ministers  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  occasionally  assisted  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Brown  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Huske. 


156  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

1887. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry  on  February  8,  18S7,  the  rector  stated 
that  he  had  signed  the  form  of  oath  required  by  the  United  States 
Custom  House  Department  for  the  free  entry  of  the  new  windows  for 
the  church,  in  memory  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton,  from  Cox  Sons,  Buckley 
&  Co.,  in  England,  and  that  the  windows  would  soon  be  in  Buffalo. 

Dr.  Hopkins  from  the  committee  reported  that  he  had  secured  sub- 
scriptions to  the  amount  of  $1,100  to  pay  the  salary  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Huske,  as  assistant  minister  and  for  other  parish  purposes. 

The  three  beautiful  windows,  to  fill  the  lancet-triplet  over  the 
altar,  in  the  chancel  of  St.  Paul's,  being  the  memorial  to  the  late  Rev. 
Dr.  Shelton,  were  made  by  Cox  Sons,  Buckley  &  Co.,  of  London, 
arrived  in  Buffalo  in  March,  1887,  and  were  placed  in  position  by 
Mr.  Cox.  They  remained  veiled  until  Easter  Sunday,  April  10,  1887, 
on  which  day  the  parishioners  looked  upon  them  with  much  pleasure. 

The  window  on  the  north  represents  the  conversion  of  St.  Paul  on 
his  journey  to  Damascus.  A  light  is  shining  down  from  heaven  upon 
the  blindness  of  the  apostle.  At  the  base  is  the  inscription,  "  Saul, 
Saul,  why  persecutest  thou  me?"  and  under  this  "  In  Memoriam." 

The  centre  window  is  the  largest  of  the  three,  and  depicts  St.  Paul 
standing  on  Mars  Hill  surrounded  by  the  people  of  Athens,  to  whom 
he  is  preaching  of  Christ.  At  the  base  is  written  :  "  God  that  made 
the  world,  He  is  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth,  He  giveth  to  all  life  and 
breath,"  and  underneath  "William  Shelton,  D.  D.,  Rector." 

The  south  window  shows  St.  Paul  at  his  trial  before  Festus.  At  its 
base  is  the  inscription  "Speak  forth  the  words  of  truth  and  soberness," 
and  under  this  "From  1828  to  1882." 

The  two  side  windows  in  the  chancel,  facing  Erie  Street  and  the  one 
looking  out  on  Church  Street  are  also  new  and  beautiful.  The  artists 
have  finely  blended  the  colors  and  the  rays  which  come  through  the 
glass  will  throw  a  soft  light  over  the  entire  chancel  which,  when  finished, 


THE    FIRST   SHELTON   MEMORIAL    WINDOWS    AT   ST.    PAULS 

The  Reverend  Doctor  Brown  in  the  Chancel,  Easter  Monday,  1887. 

These  windows  were  unveiled  at  Easter,  1887,  and  destroyed  in  the  fire  of  18S8.     tSee  page  156.) 


From  a  composite  photograph  by  E.  F 
Hall  and  G.  H.  B. 


History  of  St.  Paul 's  CJnirch.  157 

will  be  one  of  the  handsomest  in  the  country.  The  floor  will  be  of 
marble  ;  the  walls  are  to  be  retinted  and  a  new  altar  will  take  the  place 
of  the  one  now  in  use. 

At  the  annual  election  on  Easter  Monday,  April  n,  1887,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Brown,  rector,  presiding,  Charles  W.  Evans  and  William  H.  Walker 
were  elected  wardens,  and  John  Pease,  A.  Porter  Thompson,  James  R. 
Smith,  A.  R.  Davidson,  Henry  R.  Hopkins,  George  A.  Stringer,  Robert 
P.  Wilson  and  Albert  J.  Barnard,  vestrymen.  At  a  subsequent  meeting 
of  the  vestry  G.  Hunter  Bartlett  was  re-appointed  clerk,  and  James  W. 
Sanford  treasurer. 

Margaret  Louise  Smith,  wife  of  Judge  James  M.  Smith,  died  in 
Edinburgh,  Scotland,  on  July  24,  18S7,  while  traveling  with  her 
family.  She  was  buried  from  the  residence  of  her  husband  in  Buffalo, 
August  18,  1887.  For  many  years  she  was  much  engaged  in  parish 
duties  in  Trinity  Church,  and  latterly  in  St.  Paul's,  and  was  an  efficient 
manager  in  the  Home  for  the  Friendless,  and  also  in  the  Church 
Home.  At  the  Convention  of  the  Diocese  of  Western  New  York  in 
September,  1887,  Bishop  Coxe,  in  his  annual  address,  referred  to  her 
decease  in  affectionate  terms,  and  in  conclusion  said,  "  Long  will 
she  be  remembered  by  her  fellow  Christians  as  one  who  nobly  bore 
her  part  in  every  effort  in  Christian  charity  and  beneficence,  and  who 
was  endeared  to  the  inner  circle  of  her  more  intimate  friends  by  those 
graces  of  true  womanhood  which  shrink  from  publicity,  and  court  only 
the  hearts  and  homage  of  those  whom  God  has  made  the  immediate 
partakers  of  its  love  in  the  sphere  of  private  duty."  She  was  survived 
by  her  husband,  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Robert  P.  Wilson,  and  her  son, 
Philip  S.  Smith. 

On  the  October  anniversaries  of  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton, 
it  was  customary  for  the  Rev.  Dr.  Brown  to  call  the  attention  of 
the  congregation  to  memorials  of  him,  sometimes  by  reading  portions 
of  his  sermons  preached  many  years  before,  but  yet  applicable  to  the 
present  time,  and  also  by  instituting  an  annual  October  collection  to 
contribute  a  fund  for  the  future  support  of  the  parish,  and   also  by 


158  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

collecting  funds  to  make  every  window  in  the  church  a  memorial, 
and  by  substituting  memorial  stone  columns  for  the  wooden  ones. 
It  was  under  the  auspices  of  Dr.  Brown  that  the  very  appropriate 
chancel  windows  were  placed  in  position  on  Easter  Sunday,  1887, 
commemorating  the  rectorship  of  Dr.  Shelton  from  1S29  to  1883. 
The  annual  October  collections  for  an  endowment  fund  now  amount 
to  nearly  $425,  and  the  Shelton  Memorial  Society,  composed  of  the 
younger  women  of  the  congregation,  have  raised  a  fund  of  more 
than  $600. 

"  The  Altar  and  the  Hearth  "  is  the  name  of  the  St.  Paul's  parish 
paper,  published  mostly  under  the  direction  of  the  rector.  The  Octo- 
ber, 1887,  number  contains  the  annual  report  of  the  parish  to  the 
Diocesan  Council,  held  in  Buffalo  in  September,  18S7,  for  the  year 
ending  September  1,  1887,  as  follows  :  Families,  242  ;  individuals  not 
included  in  families,  75  ;  communicants,  593  ;  Sunday-School  scholars, 
407  ;  teachers,  47  ;  number  of  scholars  in  the  Sunday-School  of  St. 
Andrew's  Chapel,  the  former  German  Mission,  150  ;  teachers,  15  ; 
$20,963  were  contributed  for  parish  purposes,  including  $14,325  for 
current  expenses,  including  salaries,  and  $3,000  for  the  memorial 
windows ;  $1,130  for  objects  within  the  diocese,  and  $1,703  for 
objects  exterior  to  the  diocese  ;  in  all,  $23,797.  Value  of  the  church 
edifice  and  lot  as  estimated  by  the  wardens,  $200,000  ;  Guild  House 
and  lot,  $12,000;  St.  Andrew's  Chapel,  $4,000.  Number  of  sittings 
in  the  church,  1,200.     Daily  services  commenced   September   1,  1887. 

The  following  articles  were  published  in  the  November  (1887) 
number  of  the  "  Altar  and  Hearth,"  relative  to  the  Sunday  evening 
services  in  St.  Paul's  Church,  Buffalo  : 

"  The  evening  service,  to  which  attention  is  called  in  this  paper,  is  intended  for  all 
sorts  and  conditions  of  men.  Situated  as  the  church  is,  in  the  heart  of  this  large  and 
growing  city,  with  the  street  railways  centering  in  such  close  proximity  to  it,  with 
hundreds  of  people  passing  to  and  fro  in  full  sight  of  it  every  Sunday  evening,  there 
is  earnest  hope  of  building  up  a  people's  service  —  free  to  all  —  a  service  which  should 
attract  by  hearty,  devout  and  beautiful  music,  and  by  the  plain  and  earnest  preaching 
of  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  as  the  Church  holds  and  teaches  the  same.     Surely  such  a  ser- 


History  of  St.  Paul's   Church.  159 

vice  ought  to  be,  under  the  direction  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  a  great  power  for  good  in 
this  community  !  St.  Paul's  parish  will  thus  maintain  four  services  every  Sunday,  and 
ample  opportunity  will  be  afforded  to  all  to  '  worship  the  Lord  in  the  beauty  of  His 
holiness.' 

"Zeal  and  devotion  in  church  work  must  never  be  allowed  to  take  the  place  of 
personal  holiness.  We  can  imagine  a  man  or  a  woman  thoroughly  engrossed  in 
Church  work  merely  for  its  own  sake — for  the  sake  of  seeing  the  Church  grow  and 
prosper  in  the  community  —  taking  a  personal  pride  in  the  mere  temporal  advance- 
ment of  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  without  having  the  heart,  the  soul,  the  life  conse- 
crated to  Christ  ;  our  Lord  would  have  us  first,  and  then  our  labors  for  His  kingdom 
follow  naturally.  Self-consecration  is  the  most  important  element  in  Church  work. 
From  personal  holiness  flow  all  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit.  Celebrating,  as  we  do  at 
this  time,  the  blessed  Feast  of  All  Saints,  it  becomes  us  to  remember  that  they 
did  most  for  Christ  who  were  most  in  Christ.  The  closer  our  sacramental  union 
with  Christ,  the  more  fruitful  that  union  will  be  in  earnest  work  for  Christ  and  His 
kingdom. 

"  Organized  effort  has  been  a  mighty  factor  in  the  spread  of  Christ's  kingdom  in 
the  world,  and  in  enlarging  the  sphere  of  Church  work.  But  isn't  there  to-day  a 
danger  of  too  many  organizations  ?  Isn't  it  better  to  have  a  few  good  organizations, 
working  on  broad  and  liberal  principles,  than  to  have  a  vast  number  very  limited  in 
their  fields  and  in  their  modes  of  operation  ?  Isn't  there  a  danger,  when  there  are  so 
many  organizations,  of  diverting  the  mind,  nay,  even  the  heart,  from  that  one  grand 
organization  which  embraces  them  all  —  the  Church?  It  is  only  as  the  various  mem- 
bers minister  to  the  general  welfare  of  the  whole  body  that  they  are  useful.  If  they 
live  at  the  expense  of  the  body  without  making  any  adequate  return,  they  are  worse 
than  useless — they  are  positively  harmful." 


I 


5pire.  1886. 


THE     RUIN'S     OF     ST.    PAUL'S     FROM     MAIN     STREET, 
i  See  pages  165  to  167.) 


From  a  photograph  by  E.  F.  Hall,  taken  on 
the  day  of  the  lire,  May  10,  i88#. 


Continuation  of  tbc 

1bistor£  of  St  {Paul's  Gburcb, 

Buffalo,  IB.  % 


1888  to   1903. 


WITH    CHAPTERS   ON  : 

The  Restored  St.  Paul's  ;  The  Memorials  ;  The 
Ivy  ;  The  Chimes  of  St.  Paul's  ;  The  Great 
Tower  and  Spire  ;  The  Music,  1817-1903  ;  Histor- 
ical Notes,  1817-1903;  List  of  the  Clergy,  1817- 
1903  ;  List  of  the  Vestry,  1817-1903  ;  The  Archi- 
tects    of     St.    Paul's  ;     Subscription    Lists,    Etc. 

BY  v 

ALICE    M.   EVANS    BARTLETT 

ANIi 

G.  HUNTER  ^BARTLETT. 
1903. 


Continuation  of  tbe 

Ibistot^  of  St.  Paul's  Cburcb, 

tSS8  to  1903. 


1888. 

At  the  annual  parish  election  on  Easter  Monday,  April  2,  1888,  the 
following  persons  were  chosen  :  Charles  W.  Evans  and  William  H. 
Walker,  wardens  ;  John  Pease,  A.  Porter  Thompson,  James  R.  Smith, 
Dr.  A.  R.  Davidson,  Dr.  Henry  R.  Hopkins,  George  Alfred  Stringer, 
Robert  P.  Wilson  and  Albert  J.  Barnard,  vestrymen. 

May  1,  1888,  G.  Hunter  Bartlett  was  re-elected  clerk  of  the  vestry, 
and  James  W.  Sanford  was  re-elected  treasurer  of  the  parish. 

At  the  same  meeting  of  the  vestry,  a  letter,  dated  April  25,  1888, 
from  the  rector,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Brown,  to  the  wardens  and  vestry,  was 
read,  in  which  he  said  :  "  I  desire  to  make  the  first  communication 
to  you  of  the  recent  official  action  of  St.  Thomas's  Church,  New  York 
City.  The  vestry  of  that  parish  on  Monday  evening  accepted  the 
resignation  of  their  venerable  rector  and  unanimously  elected  me  to 
be  his  successor.     I  accepted  their  invitation  to  assume  the  full  charge 

163 


164  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

on  June  1st  next.  This  acceptance  now  compels  my  resignation  of 
St.  Paul's,  which  I  now  offer,  to  take  effect  on  the  above  date.  In 
resigning  your  parish  and  my  work  in  Buffalo  I  need  not  assure  you  of 
the  regret  and  pain  which  this  separation  causes  me.  My  relations 
with  you  and  the  congregation  have  always  been  the  most  pleasant 
and  harmonious,  and  I  find  that  now  when  I  must  sever  them  that  my 
attachment  is  even  stronger  than  I  supposed.  I  thank  you  for  all  your 
courtesy  and  friendship,  and  fervently  pray  that  the  good  work  shall 
still  go  on  with  God's  blessing,  and  soon  some  one  shall  be  found  to 
succeed  to  what  I  have  endeavored  to  found  and  develop  in  the  Name 
and  for  the  sake  of  Christ  and  the  Church."  .... 

In  the  resolutions  of  the  vestry  on  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Brown  it 
was  said  :  "  The  Rev.  Dr.  Brown  took  charge  of  this  parish  six  years 
ago,  when  the  parish  required  great  ability  and  great  skill  to  strengthen 
and  maintain  it  in  the  position  it  had  so  long  held  in  the  Diocese  and 
in  the  Church.  How  well  he  has  succeeded  the  present  condition  of 
the  parish  fully  shows.  During  his  administration  the  number  of  com- 
municants has  largely  increased,  the  services  of  the  church  have  been 
multiplied,  and  its  finances  have  been  established  on  a  solid  basis,  and 
in  all  respects  the  parish  is  in  a  state  of  harmony  and  of  substantial 
prosperity.  We  also  desire  to  place  on  record  our  appreciation  of  his 
great  kindness  to  our  former  venerated  rector,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton, 
and  of  his  generous  fidelity  to  him  and  to  his  memory."  ....  After 
offering  the  congratulations  of  the  vestry  to  the  rector  on  his  call  to  St. 
Thomas's  Church,  the  resolutions  conclude  :  "  That  we  tender  to  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Brown,  and  to  his  family,  our  most  cordial  wishes  for  their 
health  and  happiness  in  their  new  home." 

On  motion,  the  rector  appointed  Messrs.  W.  H.  Walker,  Col.  Bar- 
nard, A.  P.  Thompson,  Dr.  Hopkins  and  James  R.  Smith  as  a  commit- 
tee to  take  action  with  reference  to  filling  the  vacancy  in  the  office  of 
rector  of  St.  Paul's. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  165 


TTbe  Burning  ot  St.  Paul's. 


"  Our  holy  and  our  beautiful  house,  where  our  fathers  praised  Thee,  is  burned  up 
with  fire  :     And  all  our  pleasant  things  are  laid  waste." 

—  Isaiah ,   Ixiv. ,  1 1 . 


On  Thursday  morning,  May  10,  1888,  Ascension  Day,  the  church 
edifice  was  almost  entirely  destroyed  by  fire,  the  result  of  an  explosion 
of  natural  gas  used  for  heating  the  church.  The  explosion,  which  was 
caused  by  an  unexpected  increase  in  the  pressure  of  gas  in  the  main 
pipe,  happened  about  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  —  an  hour  or  two  later 
the  church  would  have  been  filled  with  a  crowd  of  worshippers  at  the 
Ascension  Day  service.  At  the  same  hour  many  natural  gas  meters 
were  burst  and  several  other  fires  broke  out  in  different  parts  of  the 
city,  on  account  of  the  failure  of  the  Natural  Gas  Company's  appliances 
for  regulating  the  pressure  of  the  gas  throughout  the  city.  Almost 
immediately  the  large  interior  of  the  church  was  a  mass  of  flame. 
The  heavy  black  walnut  doors  on  the  Pearl  Street  and  Erie  Street  sides 
of  the  church  were  blown  from  their  fastenings  and  into  the  street  by 
the  force  of  the  explosion,  and  volumes  of  smoke  and  flame  poured 
forth.  The  fire  department  was  early  on  the  scene,  but  could  do 
nothing  to  save  the  interior  of  the  building.  The  firemen  fought  most 
bravely  to  save  the  main  tower,  pouring  streams  of  water  into  it 
through  the  tall  louvre  windows.  At  noon  the  fire  was  under  control, 
as  far  as  the  spire  was  concerned,  and  at  twelve-thirty  o'clock  the 
chimes  in  the  tower  rang  a  triumphant  peal,  showing  that  they  were 
not  injured,  and  that  the  tower  and  spire  were  safe.  Great  throngs  of 
people  on  all  sides  of  the  building  watched  the  burning,  and  universal 
was  the  sorrow  expressed  at  the  loss  to  the  city  of  the  beautiful  and 
historic  church.     The  fire  raged  nearly  the  entire  day,  and  was  not 


1 66  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

completely  subdued  until  the  roof  had  fallen  in,  and  the  interior  and 
all  that  it  contained  had  been  entirely  destroyed.  The  stone  walls 
were  left  standing,  but  were  greatly  damaged  in  many  places.  The 
mam  tower,  with  the  lofty  and  graceful  stone  spire,  and  the  small 
tower  were  saved,  but  the  "  fire  marks  "  on  both  towers  still  show 
how  high  and  fierce  were  the  flames. 

The  following  poem  was  printed  in  the  Buffalo  Express    on    the 
Sunday  following  the  fire  : 

ASCENSION    DAY,    1888. 


[Suggested  by  the  hymn  rung  from  the  belfry  or 
St.  Paul's  at  noontide.  ] 

' '  Our  Lord  is  risen  from  the  dead  ;  " 
(O  dauntless  bells  !  your  message  sweet 
Swells  out  through  shuddering  flame  and  heat 

And  smoke  that  crowns  your  spire's  head.) 

"  Our  Jesus  is  gone  up  on  high" 
(Brave  bells,  your  tongues  their  faith  confess 
The  nobler,  stronger,  in  their  stress, 

Like  martyr  spirits  in  their  cry  ) 

"  The  powers  of  hell  are  captive  led" 
(What  though  within  your  ruined  wal's 
An  earthly  temple  fails  and  falls  ? 

Its  spirit  rises  from  the  dead.) 

"  Dragged  to  the  portals  of  the  sky." 
(O  wounded  bells  !     Ascension  Day  ! 
Lift  saddened  hearts  with  you  to  pray 

And  bring  the  eternal  gates  more  nigh.) 

Buffalo,  May  10th.  —Edith  Eaton. 

The  photographic  reproductions,  given  in  this  volume,  of  the  ruins 
of  the  church  taken  directly  after  the  fire  show  better  than  any  descrip- 


^  _H 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  167 

tion  the  complete  destruction  of  the  interior.  The  brass  Altar  Cross 
and  the  memorial  Alms  Basin  (seepages  279,  291)  were  all  that  were 
saved  of  the  beautiful  appointments  of  the  chancel ;  the  silver  communion 
service  —  which  dates  back  to  the  year  1825  —  fortunately  escaped 
injury,  being  in  the  safe  at  the  Guild  House.  At  the  time  of  the  fire, 
several  of  the  choir  boys  and  younger  men  of  the  parish,  J.  Clark 
Milsom  and  Robert  Wilkinson,  the  sexton,  especially,  did  good  work, 
under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Davidson  and  others,  in  removing  the  me- 
morials and  other  articles  saved  from  the  vestry  room.  It  was  impossible 
to  enter  the  church  after  the  fire  broke  out,  but  the  closing  of  the  door 
in  the  Erie  Street  porch  leading  to  the  tower-room,  by  H.  S.  Hilliard, 
immediately  after  the  explosion,  may  have  been  a  factor  of  some  im- 
portance in  the  preservation  of  the  main  tower  and  spire.  As  will 
readily  be  seen,  this  doorway  was  a  serious  menace  to  the  safety  of  the 
tower  and  chime.  A  simple  precaution,  and  one  worthy  of  consideration, 
would  be  to  fit  this  opening  —  the  only  entrance  to  the  tower  —  with  a 
metal-clad,  self-closing  door,  in  place  of  the  wooden  one  still  in  use. 

In  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  May  10,  1888,  a  meeting  of  the 
vestry  was  held,  and  it  was  decided  to  take  steps  at  once  for  the  rebuild- 
ing of  the  church.  A  committee  of  seven  was  appointed  to  superintend 
the  work.  Colonel  A.  J.  Barnard  was  elected  as  chairman  of  this  com- 
mittee with  power  to  appoint  the  other  six  members.  He  appointed 
Messrs.  W.  H.  Walker,  A.  Porter  Thompson,  Dr.  H.  R.  Hopkins,  Robert 
P.  Wilson,  Geo.  Alfred  Stringer  and  James  R.  Smith. 

Dr.  Davidson,  Mr.  Stringer  and  Dr.  Hopkins  were  appointed  a 
committee  of  three  to  consult  with  the  rector,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Brown,  in 
regard  to  a  suitable  place  for  holding  the  church  services.  It  was 
decided  to  ask  the  congregation  to  continue  paying  their  pew  rents  as 
usual  while  the  church  was  being  rebuilt. 

Mr.  Walker  stated  that  the  Rev.  John  Huske  would  probably  be 
willing  and  able  to  accept  the  invitation  of  the  vestry  to  take  charge 
of  St.  Paul's  from  June  1st  to  September  1,  1888,  after  the  departure 
of  Dr.  Brown  to  his  new  parish  in  New  York  City. 


1 68  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

Letters  were  then  read  from  the  Rev.  Dr.  Lobdell,  offering  the  use 
of  Trinity  Church,  from  Wm.  Thurstone,  warden,  offering  St.  John's, 
and  from  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hitchcock,  placing  Ascension  Church  at  the  use 
of  St.  Paul's.  Judge  George  A.  Lewis,  on  behalf  of  the  trustees  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church,  generously  offered  the  use  of  that  edifice. 
Letters  of  condolence  and  sympathy  were  received  from  ministers 
and  people  of  all  denominations,  showing  how  much  affection  was  felt 
by  the  people  for  the  "mother  church  "  of  the  city. 

Dr.  Brown  also  stated  that  the  Rev.  Dr.  Israel  Aaron,  Rabbi  of  the 
Temple  Beth  Zion,  had  called  upon  him,  and  most  kindly  and  cordially 
offered  the  Temple  for  the  free  use  of  St.  Paul's  congregation,  on 
Sundays,  until  the  church  should  be  rebuilt. 

In  the  correspondence  between  the  authorities  of  the  Temple  and 
St.  Paul's  Vestry,  the  secretary  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the 
Temple  writes  :  "  In  answer  to  that  part  of  your  communication  with 
reference  to  remuneration,  this  Board  has  resolved  that  in  the  spirit  in 
which  the  use  of  our  Temple  has  been  offered  to  your  congregation  it 
would  be  impossible  for  us  to  accept  compensation  under  any  consid- 
eration." 

The  generous  offer  of  the  Rev.  Rabbi  and  the  Trustees  of  the 
Temple  was  accepted  by  St.  Paul's  committee  as  follows  : 

<<r>        ^      T  "  May  2I>  l8S8- 

Rev.   Dr.   Israel  Aaron. 

"  Rev'd  and  Dear  Sir,  —  The  communication  of  Secretary  Rosenau  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  Temple  Beth  Zion,  dated  17th  inst.,  tendering  the  free  use  of  your 
Temple  for  four  months  to  the  congregation  of  St.  Paul's  came  duly  to  hand,  and  at 
an  informal  meeting  of  the  vestry  of  the  church  and  Rev.  Dr.  Brown,  your  very  gen- 
erous and  noble  offer  was  accepted  in  the  spirit  in  which  it  was  made  and  with  our 
most  sincere  and  heartfelt  thanks.  The  chairman  of  our  committee,  Dr.  Davidson, 
being  seriously  ill,  the  writer  and  the  other  member  of  said  committee,  Dr.  Hopkins, 
would  be  pleased  to  meet  you  and  Mr.  Reiser,  at  your  residence,  this  Monday  evening 
at  half-past  eight,  or  to-morrow  evening  at  that  hour.  Rindly  advise  as  to  which  even- 
ing will  be  most  agreeable  to  you. 

"  Yours  very  sincerely, 

'.'(Signed.)         GEORGE    A.   STRINGER." 


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History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  169 

The  services,  beginning  on  the  Sunday  after  the  fire,  were  accord- 
ingly held,  until  the  completion  of  the  new  church,  in  the  Temple  Beth 
Zion*  on  Niagara  Street,  between  Pearl  and  Franklin  streets,  where 
the  new  Masonic  Temple  now  stands,  the  Rev.  John  Huske  being  the 
minister-in-charge  after  the  departure  of  Dr.  Brown  for  New  York. 

At  the  first  service  in  theTemple,  May  13,  1888,  the  Sunday  following 
the  fire,  being  the  First  Sunday  after  the  Ascension,  most  of  the  parish- 
ioners were  present,  feeling  their  common  calamity.  The  singular  coin- 
cidence of  the  words  in  the  regular  Gospel  for  the  day  —  "They  shall 
put  you  out  of  the  synagogues"  —  was  noticed  and  commented  on  by 
all,  with  a  feeling  of  thankfulness  that  the  days  when  those  words  were 
literally  true  had  passed  away  forever,  and  in  their  place  had  come 
a  period  in  which  disparity  of  religious  views  did  not  interfere  with 
brotherly  sympathy  and  help  in  time  of  trouble.  This  was  especially 
referred  to  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Brown,  in  his  sermon. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  vestry  was  held  on  Friday  evening,  May  25, 
1888,  to  take  action  relative  to  the  death  of  Dr.  Augustus  R.  Davidson. 

During  the  fire,  Dr.  Davidson  had  been  foremost  in  directing  the 
work  of  removing  the  few  memorials  and  other  articles  which  it  was 
possible  to  save  from  the  flames.  Overexertion  and  exposure  to  wet 
and  cold  at  this  time  brought  on  the  attack  of  pneumonia  which  caused 
his  untimely  and  deeply-mourned  death. 

The  following  preamble  and  resolution  were  presented,  and,  on 
motion,  unanimously  adopted  : 

"  Whereas,  Almighty  God  in  His  inscrutable  Providence  has  taken  from  our 
midst  our  beloved  friend  and  associate,  Augustus  R.  Davidson,  M.  D.; 

"Resolved,  That  while  we  submit  in  faith  and  hope  to  the  will  of  our  Heavenly 
Father  in  taking  to  the  rest  of  Paradise  our  brother,  we  desire  to  place  on  record  our 
appreciation  of  the  noble  nature  of  the  deceased,  who  for  the  past  eight  years  as  a 
vestryman  of  this  parish,  and  for  many  years  a  communicant  of  St.  Paul's,  and  also 
for  a  long  period  an  active  and  efficient  member  of  the  Council  of  St.  Paul's  Guild,  and 
recently  a  sustaining  power  in  St.  Andrew's  Mission,  always  performed  with  unswerv- 
ing devotion  the  duty  of  the  hour.     He  was  a  most  affectionate  husband  and  father,  a 

*  See  letter  of  the  late  Hon.  Lewis  F.  Allen,  page  366. 


170  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

tender  and  sympathetic  physician,  a  loyal  and  a  steadfast  friend.  '  Spirit  nobler, 
gentler,  braver,  never  shall  behold  the  light.'  With  this  expression  of  our  love  for  him 
and  our  sense  of  loss  in  his  death,  we  extend  to  his  bereaved  family,  to  the  parish 
which  he  adorned,  and  to  the  community  in  which  he  held  an  honored  place,  this  assur- 
ance of  personal  grief  and  heartfelt  sympathy."  .... 

Augustus  Reginald  Davidson,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Canada  in  1845  ; 
his  father  was  a  clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England.  He  came  to 
Buffalo  about  the  year  1870,  and  became  proprietor  of  the  former 
"  Peabody  Drug  Store,"  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Chippewa  streets. 
In  1878,  having  graduated  from  the  Medical  Department  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Buffalo,  he  began  the  practice  of  medicine,  and  made  a 
specialty  of  chemistry,  in  which  he  was  very  proficient.  He  was,  at 
the  time  of  his  death,  one  of  the  professors  in  the  Medical  Depart- 
ment of  the  Niagara  University.  Dr.  Davidson  was  a  member  of  the 
vestry  of  St.  Paul's  from  the  year  1876  until  his  death,  May  25,  1888. 

On  Sunday  morning,  May  27,  1888,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Brown  preached 
his  farewell  sermon  as  rector  of  St.  Paul's,  at  the  Temple  Beth  Zion. 
His  text  was  from  II.  Cor.,  xiii.,  14  :  "The  grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  the  love  of  Cod,  and  the  communion  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
be  with  you  all.  Amen."  His  parting  words  at  the  close  of  his  ser- 
mon were  marked  with  deep  feeling,  as  he  recalled  the  years  during 
which  he  and  his  people  had  worked  so  happily  together,  and  he 
assured  them  that  wherever  he  might  be  his  love  and  affection  would 
ever  be  with  them. 

October  2,  18S8,  at  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  it  was  decided  to  obtain 
subscriptions  for  restoring  the  church  edifice  according  to  the  plans  of 
Robert  W.  Gibson  of  New  York  City,  the  architect  of  All  Saints' 
Cathedral  at  Albany. 

Mr.  Gibson  came  from  Albany,  and,  after  consulting  with  the 
committee,  some  changes  were  made  in  the  plans,  the  proposed  Church 
Street  porch  and  the  vestry-room  being  (at  first)  omitted.     The  plans, 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  171 

with  these  changes,  were  again  submitted  to  the  builders,  and  the  con- 
tracts were  finally  let  at  the  following  figures  : 

Charles  Berriek,  mason  work $19,741.00 

Wm.  D    Collingwood,  cut  stone 26,969  00 

Jacob  Reimann,  carpenter  work, 28,492.00 

Kellogg,  iron  work, 403.00 

Making  a  total  of $75,605x0 

This  does  not  include  plastering,  or  the  woodwork  of  the  pews  or 
of  the  chancel.  Mr.  Walker  stated  that  $40,000  would  be  needed  over 
and  above  the  insurance  to  rebuild  the  church.  Mr.  Barnard  said  that 
if  $50,000  could  be  raised  it  would  be  possible  to  carry  out  the  original 
plans  of  the  architect  without  omission  or  changes. 

On  motion,  it  was  decided  to  send  out  a  circular,  signed  by  the 
vestry,  to  the  congregation,  explaining  all  that  had  been  done  so  far 
towards  rebuilding,  and  calling  for  subscriptions,  which  was  accord- 
ingly done. 

October  23,  1888,  the  finance  committee  reported  to  the  vestry  the 
several  amounts  received  from  insurance  on  the  church  property, 
amounting  in  all  to  $60,445.  The  insurance  companies  paid  at  differ- 
ent dates  from  May  19th  to  September  6,  1888. 

It  was  decided  to  add  the  building  of  the  new  vestry-room  to  the 
contract.  On  November  8,  1888,  the  building  committee  decided  to 
add  the  Church  Street  porch  also. 


1889. 

February  10,  1889,  a  special  meeting  of  the  vestry  was  called  to 
take  action  on  the  death  of  the  senior  warden,  Charles  W.  Evans, 
which  took  place  on  February  8th. 


172  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

Mr.  Walker  opened  the  meeting  with  a  few  appropriate  remarks, 
and  presented  the  following  minute,  which  was  then  adopted  : 

"  The  vestry  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Buffalo,  desire  to  place  on  record  their  deep 
sense  of  the  loss  sustained  by  the  vestry  and  by  the  church  in  the  death  of  Charles  W. 
Evans,  who  for  many  years  has  been  the  efficient  and  devoted  senior  warden  of  the 
parish. 

"  True  and  loyal  as  Mr.  Evans  was  in  all  the  relations  of  life,  he  was  pre-eminently 
so  in  relation  to  St.  Paul's  Church.  Formerly  the  faithful  clerk  of  the  vestry,  also  the 
treasurer  of  the  parish,  afterwards  a  member  of  the  vestry,  and  for  nearly  twenty-live 
years  the  senior  warden,  he  discharged  the  duties  of  all  these  positions  with  rare  fidelity. 
He  was  one  of  the  most  valued  friends  of  the  late  Dr.  Shelton,  who  knew  him  well, 
and  had  for  him  the  highest  regard. 

"His  knowledge  of  the  parish  was  unequaled,  and  by  his  efforts  its  records  have 
been  most  carefully  arranged  and  preserved.  His  benefactions  to  the  church  were 
constant  and  very  liberal. 

"  He  was  a  wise  counselor,  and  the  parish  and  vestry  will  sadly  miss  and  deeply 
mourn  the  departure  of  their  associate  and  friend." 

Charles  Worthington  Evans,  son  of  William  and  Margaret  (Ran- 
dall) Evans,  was  born  in  the  City  of  Baltimore,  Maryland,  March  13, 
181 2.  His  family  and  immediate  connections  were  members  of  the 
Society  of  Friends,  and  he  attended  their  meetings,  but  never  formally 
joined  them.  As  a  young  man,  in  Baltimore,  he  was  in  the  Firemen's 
Insurance  Company  and  the  Merchants'  Bank  of  Baltimore,  and  June 
28,  1835,  he  removed  to  Buffalo,  where  his  father's  family  had  been 
living  since  1832,  and  soon  after  joined  St.  Paul's  parish. 

During  the  fifty-three  years  of  his  business  life  in  Buffalo,  he  was 
established  on  the  Evans  Ship  Canal,  which  was  constructed  in  1833  by 
his  father,  William  Evans,  through  part  of  outer  lot  No.  3  deeded  by 
the  Holland  Land  Company  to  Benjamin  Ellicott,  brother  of  Joseph 
Ellicott,  who  laid  out  Buffalo  in  1804.  On  the  death  of  Benjamin  Elli- 
cott this  property  was  set  off  to  his  sister,  Letitia  Ellicott  Evans,  the 
mother  of  William  Evans,  and  grandmother  of  Charles  W.  Evans. 
Mr.  Evans  was  the  oldest  surviving  elevator  owner  in  the  city,  having 
operated  the  Evans  elevator  for  more  than  forty-one  years.  He  was 
also  one  of  the  oldest  members  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Buffalo,  having 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  173 

been  connected  with  the  parish  for  more  than  forty-three  years.  He 
was  associated  with  George  C.  Webster,  DeWitt  C.  Weed  and  William 
H.  Walker  in  what  was  known  for  several  years,  from  1847,  as  the 
"Junior  Vestry,"  and  these  four  young  men  made  the  first  concerted 
movement  towards  the  building  of  the  new  church. 

Mr.  Evans  had  been  honored  by  his  fellow  parishioners  with  all  the 
offices  in  the  parish,  and  was  one  of  the  wardens  for  the  twenty-five 
years  preceding  his  death.  He  was  clerk  of  the  vestry  from  1848  until 
April,  1854,  when  he  was  also  appointed  treasurer  of  the  parish, 
and  in  May,  1854,  he  was  also  elected  vestryman,  which  three 
offices  he  held  until  1858.  He  was  one  of  the  vestry  from 
1S60  to  1862  ;  he  was  junior  warden  from  April,  1863,  until 
1870,  when  he  was  elected  senior  warden,  continuing  in  this  office 
until  his  death  in  1889. 

He  was  probably  more  familiar  with  all  matters  relating  to  the 
parish  than  any  other  person  ;  he  was  also  a  warm  personal  friend  of 
the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton,  who  made  him,  in  connection  with  Mr. 
William  H.  Walker,  one  of  the  executors  of  his  estate.  During  his 
long  life  Mr.  Evans  had  entrusted  to  him  for  settlement  many  large 
estates,  and  he  was  continually  being  placed  in  positions  of  trust  and 
responsibility.  In  1S57  he  married  Miss  Mary  Peacock  of  Mayville, 
Chautauqua  County,  daughter  of  John  and  Mercy  M.  Peacock,  and 
niece  of  Judge  William  Peacock,  in  whose  house  at  Mayville  she  had 
always  lived  as  a  daughter,  her  mother  having  died  while  she  was  still 
a  very  young  child. 

Mr.  Evans  was  a  studious  man,  and  all  his  life  a  lover  of  good 
books  and  of  literary  work.  He  wrote  the  "  History  of  the  Fox,  Elli- 
cott,  and  Evans  Families,"  published  in  1882,  and  had  for  many  years 
been  collecting  materials  for  and  writing  the  "  History  of  St.  Paul's 
Church,"  which  he  left  in  manuscript,  and  which  forms  the  first  part  of 
this  volume,  as  mentioned  in  the  Preface.  Outside  of  his  family,  one 
of  his  chiefest  objects  of  interest  and  affection  was  St.  Paul's  Church, 
with  which  he  had  been  identified  for  so  many  years,  and  in  which 


1/4  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

he  was  almost  always  present  at  divine  service  on  Sundays,  sitting 
in  the  same  pew  which  he  had  occupied  from  the  time  the  church  was 
built  until  it  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1888.  He  did  not  live  to  see  the 
restoration  of  the  present  church  edifice  completed,  his  death  occur- 
ring February  8,  1889.  He  was  survived  by  his  wife  and  two  daugh- 
ters, Mrs.  G.  Hunter  Bartlett  and  Miss  Virginia  Evans,  now  Mrs. 
Walter  Devereux. 

The  property  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  opposite  St.  Paul's, 
was  sold  April  18,  1889,  to  the  Erie  County  Savings  Bank,  the  total 
cost  to  the  bank  being  $188,500.  The  new  "  First  Church  "  was  built 
on  The  Circle.  The  old  edifice  was  demolished,  and  the  imposing  new 
building  of  the  bank  which  was  erected  on  its  site  was  completed  in 

This  piece  of  land  was  "  Lot  43,"  which  had  been  deeded  to  the 
trustees  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Society  of  the  Town  of  Buffalo,  by 
the  Holland  Land  Company,  December  12,  1820,  and  upon  which, 
in  1823,  the  society  built  a  small,  frame  lecture-room,  which  gave 
place  to  the  brick  "  First  Church,"  dedicated  March  28,  1827.     (Page 

3°-) 

In  1818,  Joseph  Ellicott,  agent  of  the  Holland  Land  Company,  had 
informed  the  Rev.  Mr.  Clark,  rector  of  St.  Paul's,  that  the  vestry 
might  have  their  choice  of  lots  43  or  42  (the  opposite  lot  across  Church 
Street)  on  condition  that  they  build  their  church  on  the  lot  chosen. 
The  vestry  promptly  accepted  this  offer,  and  selected  Lot  42.  (See 
facsimile  of  Mr.  Ellicott's  letter  of  May  20,  1819,  opposite  page  14.) 
The  corner  stone  of  the  original  St.  Paul's  was  laid  June  24,  1819. 
The  formal  deed  of  Lot  42  from  the  Holland  Land  Company  was 
given  on  June  14,  1820.  (Pages  14,  19.)  St.  Paul's  was  consecrated 
February  25,  182 1.     (Page  20.) 

Ever  since  these  early  times,  this  part  of  Main  Street  has  borne 
the  popular  designation  of  "The  Churches."  In  1897  it  was  officially 
renamed  Shelton  Square  by  the  city  authorities,  in  honor  of  Dr.  Shel- 


History  of  St.  Pauls  Church.  175 

ton,    a    new   street  or   square  having  been   formed   as    described    on 
page  219.     (See  illustrations  opposite  pages  16,  38,  46,  152,  254,  440.) 

At  the  annual  election,  Easter  Monday,  April  22,  1889,  the  follow- 
ing wardens  and  vestrymen  were  chosen  : 

William  H.  Walker  and  A.  Porter  Thompson,  wardens  ;  John  Pease, 
James  R.  Smith,  Henry  R.  Hopkins,  George  Alfred  Stringer,  Robert 
P.  Wilson,  Albert  J.  Barnard,  James  Sweeney,  and  Edmund  Hayes, 
vestrymen. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry  held  May  9,  1889,  G.  Hunter  Bartlett  was 
re-elected  clerk  of  the  vestry,  and  James  W.  Sanford  was  re-elected 
treasurer  of  the  parish. 

At  the  same  meeting  an  explanation  was  ordered  entered  in  the 
minutes  in  regard  to  the  sum  of  $150  appearing  in  the  Treasurer's 
Report  as  paid  to  the  treasurer  of  Temple  Beth  Zion  for  rent.  The 
authorities  of  the  Temple  Beth  Zion  gave  the  use  of  the  Temple  to 
St.  Paul's  free  of  all  charges  whatever,  refusing  compensation  even  for 
heating  and  lights.  The  building  was  sold  to  the  Masonic  bodies  of 
the  city,  February  r,  18S9,  and  the  $150  mentioned  in  the  report  was 
paid  for  the  use  of  the  Temple  after  February  1st,  and  went  into  the 
Masonic  treasury. 

On  motion,  it  was  resolved  :  "  That  the  clerk  of  the  vestry  be  directed 
to  transmit  to  the  Reverend  Rabbi  and  to  the  trustees  of  the  Temple 
Beth  Zion  the  grateful  thanks  of  the  rector,  wardens  and  vestry  of  St. 
Paul's  Church  for  the  hospitality  extended  to  the  congregation  of  St. 
Paul's  during  so  many  months.  It  is  difficult  for  the  vestry  to  ade- 
quately express  their  thanks  for  the  bestowal  of  a  hospitality  so  gen- 
erous and  open-handed,  which  refused  all  compensation  even  for 
heating  and  lights,  and  hard  to  state  in  words  their  full  appreciation  of 
the  spirit  in  which  it  was  given." 

The  finance  committee  reported  that  the  sums  subscribed  and 
pledged  by  the  members  of  the  congregation  for  the  rebuilding  of  the 
church  amounted  to  more  than  $60,000. 


176 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 


Subscription,  IRcbuiloino  St.  Paul's  Gburcb,  1888, 


FROM    THE   ORIGINAL    LIST. 


E.  L.  Stevenson, 
Wm.  H.  Walker,       . 
James  M.  Smith, 
Charles  W.  Evans,    j 
Mary  Evans,  ) 

A.  P.  Thompson, 
Matilda  C.  Thompson, 
S.  Douglas  Cornell,  . 
James  R.  Smith,  .     . 
Edmund  Hayes,  . 
Geo.  Alfred  Stringer, 
H.  R.  Hopkins,    .      . 
Matthew  D.  Mann,   . 
E.  H.  Hutchinson,    . 
A.  J.  Barnard,         i 
Clara  S.  Barnard,    ) 
Jane  W.  Grosvenor, 
Abby  W.  Grosvenor, 
Lucretia  S.  Grosvenor, 
William  H.  Glenny,   ) 
Jane  G.  Glenny,  J 

James  Sweeney,    . 
Robert  P.  Wilson,      ) 
Margaret  L.  Wilson,  ) 
Agnes  I..  Warren, 
Laetitia  P.  Viele, 
Sarah  E.  Bryant,  . 
Geo.  S.  Field,  7 

Margaret  C.  Field,      \ 
Elizabeth  A.  McKee, 
Edith  K.  Walker,      . 
Susan  E.  Kimberly, 
Charlotte  Kimberly 


■:} 


|>5, 000.00 
5,000.00 
3,000.00 

2,500.00 

2,500.00 

2,500.00 
2,000.00 
2,000.00 
1,000.00 
1,000.00 
1,000.00 
1,000.00 

1,000.00 
1,500.00 

1,000.00 

1,000.00 

1,000.00 

1,000.00 
1,000.00 
1,000.00 

1,000.00 

1,000.00 
1,000.00 

1,000.00 


Mrs.  Louisa  M.  Weed,  } 
Hobart  Weed,                 f    "     ' 

$1,000.00 

Geo.  N.  Burwell 

1,000.00 

Geraldine  H.  R.  Richmond, 

John  R.  H.  Richmond, 

Lillian  R.  Richmond, 

>■     1,000.00 

Gerald  H.  Richmond, 

Edward  S.  Richmond, 

A.  Cleveland  Coxe,   .      .     .     . 

500.00 

Mary  H.  Lee 

500.00 

Agnes  Squier, 

500.00 

Ella  F.  Cook, 

200.00 

Jane  G.  Dann 

500.00 

R.  E.  McWilliams,         1 
Mary  R.  McWilliams,    \    ' 

500.00 

Charles  G.  Curtiss,    . 

500.00 

Lucy  H.  Weed,       1 
George  T.  Weed,    ) 

500.00 

Edward  L.  Kimberly,    .     . 

500.00 

T.  W.  Cushing 

250.00 

Howard  H.  Baker,    . 

300.00 

W.  A.  Joyce, 

200.00 

E.  C.  Walker 

200.00 

0.  H.  P.  Champlin,       .     . 

200  00 

S.  D.  Caldwell 

200.00 

Edward  Bennett 

200.00 

Lester  Wheeler,    .... 

100.00 

Bernard  Bartow,   .... 

50.00 

P.  P.  Burtis 

200.00 

John  L.  Kimberly,  Jr., 

200.00 

J.  Tillinghast,       .... 

200.00 

M.  Powers  Fillmore, 

500.00 

John  Huske, 

100.00 

Mrs.  J.  C.  Devereux, 

$50.00 

Miss  Catherine  McVicker, 

100.00 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  W.  Abbot 

t,       100  00 

Elizabeth  A.  Longnecker,  . 

100.00 

Josephine  Looney,     . 

50.00 

Frances  C.  Dougherty, 

25.00 

C.  A.  Dougherty, 

25.00 

Samuel  G.  Walker,    . 

50.00 

Caroline  E.  Scroggs, 

200.00 

J.  A.  Lepper,  .     .     . 

15.00 

Anna  Hoxsie  Cook,   . 

200.00 

Chas.  E.  Williams,    . 

50.00 

Thomas  G.  Perkins, 

100.00 

Geo.  M.  Ogilvie, 

100.00 

John  M.  Ogilvie, 

20.00 

J.  H.  Marling,      .     . 

25.00 

Helen  L.  Spencer,       i 

Harriet  M.  Spencer,  ) 

25.00 

Philip  S.  Smith,    .     . 

50.00 

John  G.  Luber,     . 

50.00 

Henry  Bristol, 

200.00 

M.  Caroline  Persch,  . 

100.00 

Edward  L.  Brady, 

50.00 

Mrs.  Edward  L.  Brady, 

50.00 

Thomas  Lothrop, 

50.00 

E.  F.  Meister,      .     . 

25.00 

Jessie  A.  McKenna, 

25.00 

Mary  E.  Walker, 

25.00 

T.  H.  Mendsen,  . 

100.00 

S.  L.  Porter,    .     .     . 

20.00 

S.  E.  Laird,     .     .     . 

25.00 

J.  C.  Nagel,     .     .     . 

200.00 

Lee  H.  Smith,         \ 

Corrie  L.  Smith,      ) 

50.00 

Wm.  B.  Gallagher,    . 

50.00 

Mary  L.  Gallagher,   . 

50.00 

Henry  English, 

100.00 

Fred  T.  Johnson, 

25.00 

Mrs.  Chas.  Mary, 

25.00 

History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 


Mrs.  Geo.  E.  Hayes, 
Jas.  R.  Silliman,     ) 
Urania  Silliman,      \ 
Thos.  F.  Lewis,  .     . 
W.  B.  Moore,       .     . 
Sanford  C.  McKnight, 
Susan  Sanford, 
J.  W.  Sanford, 
Geo.  F.  McKnight, 
Carrie  G    McKnight 
R.  Ferguson,  . 
Wm.  Y.  Warren, 
Clara  B.  Warren, 
Janet  W.  Rodney, 
E.  S.  Warren, 
Laetitia  V.  W.  Hasbrouck 

S.  T.  Smith 

Sheldon  T.  Viele,    ) 
Anna  D.  Viele,         f 
Sheldon  Thompson,        \ 
Fannie  M.  Thompson,  ) 
W.  T.  Miller,  ) 

Catharine  T.  Miller,  ) 
Alice  J.  Thompson, 
Agnes  W.  Thompson,    . 
Augustus  A.  Thompson,   ' 
Marian  A.  Thompson,        j 
Laetitia  V.  Thompson,    ] 
E.  W.  Thompson, 
Clara  B.  Thompson,  \- 

Albert  S.  Thompson, 
Matilda  J.  Thompson,     J 
Nath.  J.  Hall,       .     . 
Charlotte  T.  Wright, 
Eliza  Gorman, 
Mary  Gorman, 
Matthew  O'Neill, 
Mrs.  Edwin  Hurlbert, 
Maria  L.  Callender,  . 


177 

<  2, 000. 00 
50.00 

25.00 
25.00 

400.00 


50.00 
100.00 
100.00 

50.00 
100.00 

50.00 

50.00 

100.00 
50.00 
50.00 

2500 
25.00 

25.00 


25.00 


25.00 
100.00 
25.00 
25.00 
500.00 
500.00 
150.00 


178  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

Matilda  Hill $  15.00  H.  R.  Howland $  25  00 

Mrs.  Streater  and  family,    .     .  25.00  B.  Rumsey 25.00 

Spencer  Clinton 100.00  Elisha  T.  Smith 50.00 

Charles  R.  Wilson 25.00  Julia  W.  Smith, 30.00 

Mrs.  Thomas  Rose,        .     .     .  50.00  Wm.  Warren  Smith,       .      .     .  20.00 

T.  W.  McKnight 25.00  Daniel  O'Day, 100.00 

The  pews  in  the  former  church  edifice  were  mostly  held  in  fee  by 
individual  owners,  who  also  paid  a  yearly  rental,  as  fixed  by  the  vestry. 
(See  reproduction  of  old  pew  deeds  opposite  pages  22,  54.)  As  the 
destruction  of  the  church  by  fire  in  1S88  annulled  this  ownership,  it  was 
decided  that  henceforth  no  pews  should  be  sold  to  individuals,  but  that 
they  should  be  owned  by  the  church,  and  rented  from  year  to  year. 
The  former  individual  ownership  dated  from  1820,  when  the  first 
sale  of  pews  in  the  original  frame  church  was  held.  This  individual 
ownership  led  to  some  curious  complications,  the  Bank  of  England  at 
one  time  obtaining  title  to  one  of  the  pews.     (See  page  385.) 

The  same  system  was  continued  in  the  new  stone  church,  which 
was  first  occupied  in  185 1.  The  subscriptions  to  the  building 
fund  were  made  in  the  form  of  purchases  of  stock,  the  pews  being 
deeded  by  the  church  to  the  various  subscribers  in  proportion  to  the 
amounts  of  their  several  subscriptions.  Persons  who  had  owned  pews 
in  the  old  frame  church  were  also  given  pews  of  a  proportionate  value 
in  the  new  church.  In  after  years  this  ownership  of  the  pews  by  indi- 
viduals caused,  as  before  stated,  many  complications,  and  it  was  found 
desirable  to  do  away  with  it,  but  the  legal  difficulties  in  the  way  could 
not  be  overcome  without  undue  trouble  and  cost.  The  fire,  however, 
cancelled  these  obligations,  and  all  of  the  pews  in  the  restored  St.  Paul's 
are  now  held  in  fee  by  the  church  corporation,  and  rented  from  year 
to  year  by  the  vestry.  The  subscriptions  to  the  fund  after  the  fire  of 
1888  were  made  with  no  reference  to  an  equivalent  ownership  of  stock 
or  pews  in  the  restored  edifice,  but  simply  as  gifts  for  rebuilding  the 
church. 

A  communication  from  the   finance  committee  to  the  congregation, 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  179 

dated  April  10,  1889,  reports  that  "during  the  past  eventful  year  the 
pew  rentals  have  —  as  a  general  rule  —  been  promptly  paid.  .  .  .  The 
church  is  now  approaching  completion,  and  for  the  ensuing  year  we 
shall  at  first  hold  our  services  in  the  Sunday  School  room."  .... 
The  Easter  services,  April  21,  1889,  were  held  in  the  basement  Sunday- 
school  room,  or  "Crypt  Chapel." 

At  the  vestry  meeting  of  May  9,  1889,  a  letter  from  the  Rev.  John 
Huske,  the  minister-in-charge,  dated  May  7,  1889,  was  read,  in  which 
he  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  vestry  his  resignation  of  the  position  of 
minister-in-charge  of  St.  Paul's,  the  resignation  to  go  into  effect  on 
Saturday,  the  nth  inst.  Mr.  Huske  had  been  called  to  the  rectorship 
of  St.  Paul's  Church  in  Erie,  Pa.,  of  which  parish  he  took  charge  in 
the  autumn  of  1889,  on  his  return  from  a  European  trip. 

In  the  minutes  of  the  vestry  on  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Huske,  it 
was  stated  : 

"  The  wardens  and  vestry  of  St.  Paul's  Church  accept  the  resignation  of  the  Rev. 
John  Huske  as  minister-in-charge  of  the  parish,  with  sincere  regret,  and  will  always 
retain  a  grateful  memory  of  his  ministrations  among  us.  The  circumstances  under 
which  Mr.  Huske  took  up  the  work  in  St.  Paul's  were  peculiarly  sad.  The  church  had 
been  partially  destroyed  by  fire,  and  this  was  followed  by  the  departure  of  the  rector, 
the  Rev.  John  W.  Brown,  D.  D  ,  who  had,  previous  to  that  calamity,  accepted  the 
call  to  St.  Thomas's  Church,  New  York.  In  the  face  of  these  and  many  other  serious 
difficulties,  Mr.  Huske  has  performed  most  excellent  work.  By  his  courage  and 
efforts  he  has  succeeded  to  an  unusual  degree  in  holding  the  congregation  together, 
and  his  labors,  especially  among  the  sick  and  afflicted,  have  been  constant  and  faithful. 
In  all  respects  he  has  done  his  duty  nobly  and  well. 

"  The  vestry  unite  with  the  congregation  in  wishing  the  Rev.  Mr.  Huske  a  pros- 
perous voyage  to  Europe  and  a  safe  return,  and  also  tender  to  him  their  warmest 
wishes  for  his  welfare  and  happiness  in  the  important  parish  to  which  he  has  been 
called."  .... 

At  the  same  meeting  Mr.  Walker  stated  that  the  Rev.  G.  Mott  Wil- 
liams had  been  temporarily  engaged  as  minister-in-charge  of  the  parish. 

(In  1895,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Williams  was  made  bishop  of  the  diocese  of 
Marquette,  Michigan.) 


i8o  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

A  committee  of  five,  consisting  of  A.  P.  Thompson,  chairman,  W. 
H.  Walker,  Col.  Barnard,  Edmund  Hayes  and  Dr.  Hopkins,  was  ap- 
pointed to  receive  applications  for  memorial  windows,  and  to  pass 
upon  the  artistic  merit  and  appropriateness  of  the  designs  selected. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  vestry,  September  12,  1889,  Mr.  Walker 
introduced  the  subject  of  obtaining  a  rector  for  St.  Paul's  Church,  and 
spoke  at  some  length  concerning  the  Rev.  Henry  A.  Adams,  first 
assistant  of  Trinity  Church,  New  York  City.  The  following  motion 
was  then  offered  and  unanimously  adopted  : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  committee  charged  with  the  duty  of  securing  a  rector  for  the 
parish  be  and  are  hereby  authorized  —  if  acting  unanimously  —  to  call  the  Rev. 
Henry  A.  Adams  of  New  York  to  that  position." 

The  Hon.  James  M.  Smith,  George  Alfred  Stringer  and  O.  H.  P. 
Champlin  were  elected  delegates  to  the  fifty-second  annual  Council  of 
the  Diocese,  at  the  same  meeting. 

October  16,  1889,  the  chairman  reported  for  the  committee  on  finding 
a  rector,  the  call  and  acceptance  of  the  Rev.  Henry  A.  Adams  ;  that 
the  rectorate  was  to  date  from  October  15,  1889,  and  that  the  rector's 
salary  was  to  be  $6,000  per  annum. 

Robert  Wilkinson  gave  up  his  position  as  sexton,  and  afterwards 
became  janitor  of  the  new  First  Presbyterian  Church  on  The  Circle. 
He  had  been  at  St.  Paul's  for  ten  years,  and  was  succeeded  in  Novem- 
ber, 1889,  by  William  Graveson. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  November  29,  1889,  at  the  house  of  the 
rector,  the  Rev.  Henry  A.  Adams,  it  was  moved  and  carried  that  the 
dedication  of  the  church  be  held  upon  January  2d  or  3d,  1890,  and  that 
the  rector  and  wardens  be  a  committee  to  make  the  necessary  arrange- 
ments for  that  occasion.  It  was  also  moved  and  carried  that  this 
committee  wait  upon  the  bishop  and  invite  him  to  hold  the  services  of 
his  twenty-fifth  anniversary  in  St.  Paul's,  and  also  inform  him  that  it 
is  the  desire  of  the  vestry  that  the  dedication  of  the  church  shall  be 
held  in  connection  with  his  anniversary  services. 

On  motion,  the  clerk  was  directed  to  express  the  thanks  of    the 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  181 

vestry  to  William  D.  Collingwood   for  his  generous  gift  of  the  stone 
font  to  the  church.     (See  pages  274,  394.) 

December  21,  18S9,  at  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  a  letter  was  read 
from  Mrs.  Charles  W.  Evans  and  her  daughters,  Mrs.  Alice  Evans 
Bartlett  and  Miss  Virginia  Evans,  formally  presenting  the  brass  memo- 
rial lectern  to  the  church,  upon  which  the  following  was  offered  : 

"  Whereas,  A  communication  has  been  received  by  the  vestry  from  Mrs.  Charles 
W.  Evans  and  her  daughters  stating  that  they  have  placed  a  brass  lectern  in  St. 
Paul's  Church  as  a  memorial  to  the  late  senior  warden,  Charles  Worthington  Evans  ; 
therefore, 

"Resolved,  That  this  vestry  gladly  accepts  this  costly  and  beautiful  memorial,  and 
wishes  to  offer  to  Mrs.  Evans  and  her  daughters  its  grateful  acknowledgment  of  this 
most  acceptable  gift."  ....     (See  page  287.) 

At  a  meeting  of  the  building  committee,  December  12,  1889,  it  was 
resolved  that  the  designs  "  for  the  oak  litany  desk  to  be  presented  by 
Charles  A.  Gould  be  adopted,  with  the  thanks  of  the  committee  to  the 
donor."     (See  page  288.) 

Saturday,  December  28,  1889,  there  was  a  second  fire  in  St.  Paul's 
Church,  which  was,  however,  overcome  with  slight  damage  to  the  build- 
ing or  contents.  It  was  caused  by  an  overheated  smoke  pipe  in  the 
Erie  Street  porch.  One  of  the  local  papers,  commenting  on  this  fire, 
said  :  "  Fifty  dollars  will  probably  cover  the  loss,  which  is  a  low 
price  to  pay  for  discovering  a  dangerous  fire-trap."  Another  paper 
said  :  "  Few  events  within  the  limits  of  ordinary  happenings  in  the 
city  could  cause  so  intense  and  widespread  excitement  as  the  report 

that  St.  Paul's  Church  was  on  fire If  the  City  Hall  had  been 

on  fire,  the  excitement  about  town  would  not  have  been  so  o-reat." 


189O. 

For  detailed  description  of  the  church  as  rebuilt,  see  special  chap- 
ter, "The  Restored  St.  Paul's,"  page  265. 


1 82  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

January  2,  1890,  at  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  the  rector  stated  that 
the  entire  church  edifice  was  not  to  be  consecrated  by  the  bishop,  but 
only  the  new  extension  to  the  church,  the  old  walls  being  still  standing. 
The  service,  as  stated  by  the  bishop,  would  be  one  of  "  Hallowing  and 
Reconciling"  after  the  restoration  of  the  church  edifice. 

The  Instrument  of  Donation  was  then  read,  and  on  motion  of  Mr. 
Walker,  all  the  members  of  the  vestry  then  present  signed  the  Instru- 
ment and  the  clerk  affixed  the  seal  : 

flnstrument. 

"  Reverend  Father  in  God  : 

"We,  the  Rector,  Church  Wardens  and  Vestrymen  of  St.  Paul's  Church  in  the 
City  of  Buffalo,  having  by  the  blessing  of  God  rebuilt  and  restored  our  parish  church, 
known  also  as  St.  Paul's  Cathedral,  after  its  partial  destruction  by  fire,  do  hereby  offer 
it  to  receive  at  your  hands,  by  a  public  solemnity,  such  renewal  of  its  sacred  character 
as  in  your  judgment  is  requisite.  And  forasmuch  as  by  an  Instrument  of  Donation, 
dated  October  4th,  A.  D.  1851,  the  former  house  was  placed  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
the  Right  Reverend  William  Heathcote  De  Lancey,  then  Bishop  of  Western  New 
York,  for  himself  and  for  his  successors  in  office  ;  and  forasmuch  as  thereupon  the 
said  Bishop  did  receive  the  same,  and  by  solemn  rites  did  consecrate  and  make  it  a 
Church  on  the  22d  day  of  October,  A.  D.  1851. 

"  Now,  therefore,  we,  the  corporation  aforesaid,  do  hereby  renew  and  freshly  assume 
all  the  obligations  then  by  this  corporation  acknowledged  and  professed.  And  we  do 
solemnly  ratify  the  said  Instrument,  and  hold  it  to  be  binding  upon  us  and  our  suc- 
cessors according  to  its  original  intent,  with  respect  of  this  church  as  restored,  im- 
proved and  enlarged.  And  we  do  hereby  pray  you  so  to  set  it  apart,  and  to  restore  it 
after  desecration  (to  which  it  has  been  more  or  less  exposed  in  the  process  of  rebuild- 
ing), so  that  it  may  be  no  further  secularized  or  profaned,  but  may  be  continually  hal- 
lowed by  all  men  as  a  House  of  Prayer,  and  used  exclusively  for  the  Worship  and 
Glory  of  Almighty  God.  according  to  the  Doctrines,  Liturgy,  Rites  and  Usages  of  the 
Church  known  as  the  '  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America.' 
And  further,  as  the  chancel  of  this  church  hath  been  much  enlarged,  and  is  rebuilt 
partly  upon  new  and  unconsecrated  ground,  we  therefore  do,  by  these  presents,  as 
respects  the  said  enlargement,  assume  all  the  obligations  of  the  Instrument  aforesaid, 
as  if  the  new  chancel  or  choir  had  been  part  and  parcel  of  the  original  fabric  at  the 
date  of  its  consecration.     And  we  do  hereby  move  you,  Reverend  Father,  to  take  the 


THE     RESTORED     ST.   PAUL'S. 
From  Main  Street. 


Photograph  by  A.  W.  Simon,  1895. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  183 

same  into  your  jurisdiction  and  to  consecrate  and  set  it  apart  for  sacred  uses  exclu- 
sively. The  same  is  designed  to  be  a  Memorial  of  the  life  and  ministry  of  the  Rev- 
erend William  Shelton,  D.  D.,  for  more  than  half  a  century  Rector  of  this  church  ;  and 
we  ask  you  to  recognize  it  as  such  in  your  Apostolic  Sentence,  making  it  a  Holy  Place 
for  the  due  celebration  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament  of  the  Body  and  Blood  of  Christ,  and 
for  all  other  rites  and  usages  which  by  the  Canons  and  Rubrics  of  the  Church  are 
appointed  for  such  Holy  Place  in  the  House  of  God. 

In  Witness  Whereof  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  and  the  seal  of  this  Cor- 
poration, in  the  City  of  Buffalo,  on  this  2d  day  of  January,  in  the  Year  of  Our  Lord 
One  Thousand,  Eight  Hundred  and  Ninety." 

On  Friday  morning,  at  eleven  o'clock,  January  3,  1S90,  the  service 
of  Reconciling  and  Hallowing  was  held  by  Bishop  Coxe  in  St.  Paul's, 
and  the  restored  church  was  formally  reopened  and  dedicated  to  the 
Worship  of  Almighty  God  in  the  presence  of  a  large  congregation. 
The  bishop,  preceded  by  a  long  line  of  choristers  and  clergy,  entered 
the  church.  The  procession  passed  through  the  north  aisle  and  up 
the  center  aisle  to  the  chancel,  the  6Sth  Psalm  being  repeated  mean- 
while by  the  bishop  and  the  clergy  and  congregation  responsively. 
After  reaching  the  chancel,  the  Instrument  of  Donation  was  read  by 
the  rector,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Adams,  and  the  bishop  proceeded  in  the 
office,  arranged  by  him  for  this  occasion,  in  a  form  slightly  differing 
from  that  for  the  consecration  of  a  church.  The  Sentence  of  Conse- 
cration was  then  read,  and  was  placed  by  the  bishop  upon  the  Holy 
Table.  The  Benediction  and  Invocation  followed,  after  which  Morn- 
ing Prayer  was  said.  The  sermon  was  by  Bishop  Coxe,  the  text  being 
from  Nehemiah  xiii.,  14  :  "Remember  me,  O  my  God,  concerning  this, 
and  wipe  not  out  my  good  deeds  that  I  have  done  for  the  house  of  my 
God,  and  for  the  offices  thereof."  In  the  course  of  his  sermon,  the 
Bishop  quoted  the  words  of  Dr.  Shelton  on  the  occasion  of  the  former 
consecration  :  "  If  the  spirits  are  mercifully  allowed  to  revisit  the 
scenes  of  earth,  we  may  be  assured  they  will  look  down  upon  us  to-day, 
and  sing  Hosannahs,  with  us,  in  the  Highest."  The  bishop  also 
referred  to  the  work  so  successfully  carried  out  by  the  congregation, 
and  said  :     "  Out  of  the  ashes  of  humiliation,  the  church  has  sprung 


184  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

up  greater  and  more  beautiful  than  ever."  The  offering  was  for  St. 
Philip's  Church,  and  the  services  closed  with  the  Celebration  of  the 
Holy  Communion. 

In  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  January  3,  1890,  the  commemora- 
tive services  were  held  in  St.  Paul's  for  the  completion  of  the  twenty- 
fifth  year  of  Bishop  Coxe's  Episcopate,  as  the  second  Bishop  of  West- 
ern New  York.  "  St.  Paul's  never  before  looked  so  resplendent.  Since 
the  disastrous  fire  of  eighteen  months  ago,  its  interior  had  been  entirely 
renovated  and  greatly  beautified,  and  on  the  morning  of  this  day  it 
had  been  hallowed  with  a  special  service  by  the  Bishop  of  the  Dio- 
cese      The  vested  choirs  of  St.  Paul's,  Trinity,  Ascension,  St. 

Luke's,  St.  Mary's,  St.  Andrew's,  All-Saints,  and  the  Good  Shepherd, 
all  of  Buffalo,  and  consisting  of  some  250  voices,  each  choir  led  by  a 
crucifer,  passed  from  the  crypt  to  the  west  door  of  the  church,  singing 
'The  Son  of  God  goes  forth  to  war.'  ....  The  clergy,  vested  in 
cassock,  surplice,  and  white  stoles,  and  many,  by  request  of  the  bishop, 
wearing  the  colored  hoods  indicative  of  their  academic  degrees,  fol- 
lowed, and  opening  ranks  upon  reaching  the  choir,  the  bishops  and 
elder  clergy  passed  into  the  Sanctuary.  Evensong  was  then  impres- 
sively rendered,  and  the  special  prayers,  set  forth  by  the  Bishop  of  the 

Diocese,  were  said At  the  close  of  Evening  Prayer,  the  Rev. 

Dr.  Rankine,  Rector  of  DeLancey  Divinity  School,  and  of  St.  Peter's 
Church,  Geneva,  being  one  of  the  oldest  priests  in  the  Diocese,  and 
one  of  the  attending  priests  at  Bishop  Coxe's  consecration,  was  dele- 
gated by  the  committee  to  deliver  a  congratulatory  address  to  the 
bishop."  ....  During  his  address,  Dr.  Rankine  stated  that  the 
clergy  of  the  Diocese  desired  to  present  to  the  bishop  a  Pastoral  Staff, 
for  the  Diocese  of  Western  New  York,  to  be  delivered  on  the  near- 
approaching  twenty-fifth  anniversary,  April  5,  1890,  of  his  ceasing  to 
be  Coadjutor  by  the  death  of  Bishop  DeLancey,  and  of  his  entering 
upon  the  full  responsibility  of  Episcopal  jurisdiction.  The  staff  to 
remain  in  the  Diocese  as  a  memento  of  its  marked  progress  under 
Bishop  Coxe's  supervision,  and  a  transmitted  bond  in  its  future  history. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  185 

At  the  close  of  the  address,  Dr.  Rankine  presented  to  the  Bishop,  on 
behalf  of  Hobart  College  and  the  DeLancey  Divinity  School,  a  rare 
book  —  a  Book  of  Common  Prayer  in  many  languages. 

After  Bishop  Coxe's  response,  he  was  addressed  by  the  Hon.  James 
M.  Smith,  LL.  D.,  Chancellor  of  the  Diocese,  who,  on  behalf  of  the 
laymen  of  the  Diocese,  presented  the  Bishop  with  a  purse  of  twenty- 
five  hundred  dollars. 

The  sermon  was  delivered  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Henry  C.  Potter,  D.  D., 
LL.  D.,  Bishop  of  New  York,  and  was  an  eloquent  characterization  of 
what  constitutes  an  ideal  Bishop,  which,  without  being  direct  praise, 
touched  delicately  on  many  points  of  Bishop  Coxe's  own  character. 

The  Recessional  Hymn  was,  "  I  love  Thy  Kingdom,  Lord."  After 
the  clergy  and  choirs  had  passed  into  the  crypt,  the  Bishop  spoke 
touchingly  to  the  singers,  thanking  them  for  their  part  in  the  services 
of  the  evening.  The  choirs  of  the  different  churches  were  accompa- 
nied by  their  respective  choir-masters,  and  the  music  was  under  the 
general  direction  of  Samuel  J.  Gilbert,  organist  and  choir-master  of 
St.  Paul's.  The  anthems  and  hymns  were  all  familiar  ones,  and  the 
musical  portion  of  the  service  was  most  inspiring. 

At  ten  o'clock  on  Saturday  morning,  January  4th,  at  St.  Paul's, 
there  was  a  solemn  celebration  of  the  Holy  Eucharist,  attended  by 
many  of  the  clergy  and  laity,  gathered  from  all  parts  of  the  Diocese. 
Bishop  Coxe  was  the  celebrant,  and  was  assisted  by  Bishop  Potter,  the 
Rev.  William  A.  Hitchcock,  D.  D.,  of  Ascension  Church,  and  the  Rev. 
Francis  Lobdell,  D.  D.,  of  Trinity.  The  sermon  was  preached  by 
Bishop  Coxe,  and  was  addressed  personally  and  intimately  to  the 
clergy  of  the  Diocese,  as  to  the  mutual  relations  of  Bishop  and  Pres- 
byter. He  recalled  the  early  history  of  the  Diocese,  and  referred  to 
the  pioneers  of  the  Church  in  the  then  wilds.  He  said  :  "  Western 
New  York  owes  its  existence  as  a  planted  Church,  chiefly  and  first  of 
all  to  the  piety  of  a  single  Presbyter,  Davenport  Phelps" — and  also 
of  "  his  compeer,  the  revered  Father  Nash."  Referring  to  his  own 
consecration  the  Bishop  said  of  the  clergy  who  came  about  him  at  the 


1 86  History  of  St.  Paul's  CJiurch. 

close,  to  press  his  hand  :  "  When  one  came  forward  whom  I  had  looked 
up  to  in  my  youth  as  one  of  the  most  eloquent  clergymen  of  the 
Church,  when  one  so  much  my  superior,  with  infinite  humility  came 
and  took  my  hand,  and  looked  into  my  face  and  called  me  his  bishop, 
I  remember  what  a  lesson  it  was  to  me  —  to  be  humble  indeed.  I 
speak  of  the  beloved  Ingersoll.  When  such  a  man  as  Ingersoll  saluted 
me,  his  younger  brother,  as  his  bishop,  and  wished  me  Godspeed  out 
of  a  loving  heart,  the  Lord  knoweth  I  was  humbled.     I  seem  to  see, 

even  now,  his  beautiful  expression,  his  tender  and  loving  eyes 

I  need  not  mention  my  venerated  friend,  Dr.  Shelton,  as  one  whom  I 
loved.  He  at  that  time  was  not  present.  He  had  given  me  his  prayers 
and  blessing,  and  was  then  traveling  in  the  Holy  Land."  .... 

After  the  service,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Van  Dyke  thanked  the  bishop,  on 
behalf  of  the  clergy  of  the  diocese,  for  allowing  them  to  demonstrate, 
in  the  way  that  had  been  done,  their  appreciation  of  his  many  years 
of  service  among  them. 

When  a  public  commemoration  had  been  at  first  proposed,  the 
bishop  had  been  much  averse  to  it. 

The  pastoral  staff,  of  silver  and  ebony,  of  exquisite  design  and 
workmanship,  was  later  received  by  the  bishop,  and  at  his  death  was 
transmitted  to  Bishop  Walker  as  his  successor  in  office,  and  is  used  as 
the  pastoral  staff  of  the  diocese.  It  is  said  that  the  old  wooden 
crozier,  which  Bishop  Coxe  used  for  many  years,  and  of  which  he  was 
especially  fond,  had  been  given  to  him  by  Dr.  Shelton,  and  was  made 
from  wood  from  St.  Paul's  Church.     This  staff  was  buried  with  him. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  held  at  the  Parish  House,  formerly 
called  the  Guild  House,  March  26,  1890,  it  was  moved  and  carried 
that  the  parish  should  have  an  assistant  minister.  At  this  meeting  it 
was  decided  that  the  balance  (about  $2,400)  of  the  $4,000  left  to  St. 
Paul's  by  the  Rev.  William  Shelton,  D.  D.,  should  be  transferred  tem- 
porarily to  the  building  fund.  Dr.  Shelton  left  $2,000  to  the  parish, 
the  interest  to  be  used  for  chiming  the  bells.  He  also  left  $4,000 
unconditionally.     A  portion   of  this  latter  amount  was  used    by  the 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  187 

vestry  in  1886  for  repointing  the  church  edifice,  repairing  the  stone 
crosses,  etc.     (See  pages  149,  154,  155.) 

At  the  annual  election  of  wardens  and  vestrymen,  held  on  Easter 
Monday,  April  7,  1890,  the  following  persons  were  chosen  :  William 
H.  Walker  and  A.  Porter  Thompson,  wardens  ;  John  Pease,  James  R. 
Smith,  Henry  R.  Hopkins,  George  Alfred  Stringer,  Robert  P.  Wilson, 
Albert  J.  Barnard,  James  Sweeney  and  Edmund  Hayes,  vestrymen. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry  held  April  19,  1890,  G.  Hunter  Bartlett 
was  re-elected  clerk  of  the  vestry,  and  James  W.  Sanford  was  re-elected 
treasurer  of  the  parish. 

May  13,  1890,  at  the  Hygienic  Institute,  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  died  Harriet 
M.  Dayton,  widely  known  throughout  Western  New  York  as  "  Sister 
Harriet."  She  was  the  daughter  of  the  late  Judge  Nathan  Dayton  of 
Lockport,  N.  Y.,  and  was  born  September  15,  1826,  and  went  to  Lock- 
port  with  her  parents  in  1832.  She  was  a  very  faithful  worker  in  the 
Church,  and  early  gave  her  life  up  to  charitable  and  religious  work  among 
sick,  poor  and  afflicted  humanity.  She  was  the  first  ordained  member 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Order  of  Deaconesses,  and  came  to  Buffalo 
to  labor  under  Bishop  Coxe  about  1880,  later  becoming  a  member  of  St. 
Paul's  Church,  where  she  worked  under  the  direction  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Brown,  as  deaconess  of  the  parish.  Her  work  among  the  poor  and  sick 
was  constant,  and  her  quiet,  gentle  ways  endeared  her  to  all.  Her  funer- 
al was  held  in  Grace  Church,  Lockport,  and  was  very  largely  attended, 
not  only  by  her  old  friends  in  Lockport  but  by  many  from  Buffalo. 

September  it,  1890,  at  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  Mr.  Walker  spoke 
of  the  tablet  which  the  vestry  proposed  to  place  in  the  new  Temple 
Beth  Zion,  on  Delaware  Avenue,  as  an  acknowledgment  of  the  cour- 
tesy and  hospitality  extended  to  St.  Paul's  by  the  Reverend  Rabbi  and 
the  trustees  of  Temple  Beth  Zion  after  the  burning  of  the  church  on  May 
10,  1888.     On  motion,  a  committee  was  elected  to  procure  such  tablet. 

At  this  meeting,  William  H.  Walker,  Judge  James  M.  Smith  and 
O.  H.  P.  Champlin  were  elected  delegates  to  the  Diocesan  Convention 
to  be  held  at  Niagara  Falls,  September  16,  1890. 


1 88  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

At  the  same  meeting  a  letter  from  A.  Porter  Thompson  to  the 
rector,  wardens,  and  vestrymen  was  read,  in  which  he  said  :  "  In  behalf 
of  Agnes  L.  Warren,  Laetitia  P.  Yiele  and  myself,  I  hereby  present  to 
St.  Paul's  Church  a  bust  in  marble  of  the  late  Sheldon  Thompson,  our 
father,  to  replace  the  memorial  bust  heretofore  in  the  church,  and  which 
was  destroyed  by  the  explosion  in  the  church,  Ascension  Day,  1888. 
The  former  bust  was  formally  accepted  by  the  vestry  many  years  ago,  and 
we  now  ask  the  acceptance  of  this  memorial  in  place  of  the  former  one." 

The  following  preamble  and  resolution  were  then  offered  and 
unanimously  adopted  : 

"  A  communication  having  been  read  from  Mr.  A.  Porter  Thompson  offering  to 
St.  Paul's  Church,  on  behalf  of  himself  and  his  sisters,  Mrs.  Warren  and  Mrs.  Viele, 
a  marble  bust  of  their  father,  the  late  Sheldon  Thompson,  to  replace  the  one  formerly 
in  the  church.     Therefore, 

"  Resolved,  That  the  vestry  accepts  with  great  pleasure  this  valuable  memorial  of 
one  of  the  founders  of  this  parish  and  gladly  consents  to  its  being  placed  in  the 
church."     (See  pages  64,  292.) 


189I. 

At  the  annual  election,  Easter  Monday,  March  30,  1891,  the  follow- 
ing persons  were  elected  as  wardens  and  vestrymen  :  William  H. 
Walker  and  A.  Porter  Thompson,  wardens  ;  John  Pease,  Albert  J.  Bar- 
nard, George  A.  Stringer,  James  R.  Smith,  Robert  P.  Wilson,  Edmund 
Hayes,  James  Sweeney  and  Sheldon  T.  Viele,  vestrymen. 

April  14,  1891,  Edward  L.  Stevenson,  one  of  Buffalo's  oldest  and 
most  respected  citizens,  died.  He  had  long  been  prominently  identi- 
fied with  St.  Paul's  Parish,  was  one  of  the  vestry  in  i848-'49-'5o-'5i, 
a  member  of  the  building  committee  for  the  new  church  edifice  in 
1849,  and  always  most  liberal  in  his  gifts  to  the  church,  especially  for 
the  rebuilding  of  the  edifice  after  the  disastrous  fire  of  1888.  His 
name  heads  the  subscription  list  of  1 888  with  the  generous  sum  of  $5,000. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  189 

Mr.  Stevenson  was  over  eighty-five  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
and  had  been  identified  with  many  of  Buffalo's  most  important  business 
enterprises.  He  was  born  in  Auburn,  Cayuga  Co.,  March  31,  1806,  to 
which  place  his  parents  had  come  from  Massachusetts.  Here  he  lived 
until  1823,  when  he  came  to  Buffalo  as  manager  of  the  famous  stage 
route  from  Buffalo  to  Albany,  which  constituted  in  those  days  an  enter- 
prise of  very  considerable  magnitude.  At  one  time  four  regular  lines 
of  coaches  left  Buffalo  —  the  "  Telegraph  "  line,  which  limited  the  num- 
ber of  passengers  to  six,  and  in  seasons  of  good  roads  made  the  distance 
to  Albany  in  forty-eight  hours,  charging  $15  fare  ;  the  "Pilot"  line, 
the  "  Diligence,"  and  the  regular  mail  and  accommodation  line.  The 
three  latter  charged  about  $10  fare.  Mr.  Stevenson  continued  in  the 
stage  office  until  1842,  at  which  time  the  Buffalo  &  Attica  Railroad 
was  completed,  forming  the  last  link  in  the  line  from  Buffalo  to  Albany, 
and  practically  ending  the  stage  business  over  that  route  forever. 
During  this  period  Mr.  Stevenson  made  numerous  investments  in  land  ; 
these  operations  being  carefully  and  judiciously  conducted,  yielded 
handsome  profits  and  laid  the  foundation  of  his  large  fortune.  For 
many  years  past  Mr.  Stevenson  had  devoted  himself  almost  entirely  to 
the  care  of  his  large  real  estate  interests,  and  it  was  his  pride  to  say 
that  he  had  transacted  business  within  a  circle  of  100  feet  from  his 
office  on  Main  Street  for  a  period  of  sixty  years. 

Mr.  Stevenson  outlived  his  wife,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  1832, 
and  who  died  August  31,  1886,  and  both  of  their  children,  a  young 
son  who  died  in  1840,  and  the  late  George  P.  Stevenson,  who  died  May 
23,  1878  ;  but  he  was  affectionately  cared  for  during  the  ill  health  of 
his  later  years  by  his  nieces,  Miss  Amelia  Stevenson  and  the  late  Mrs. 
Frank  S.  Thorn,  who  had  lived  with  him  after  the  death  of  their  parents 
in  their  early  childhood.  The  beautiful  stained-glass  window  in  St. 
Paul's,  near  the  pulpit  and  facing  the  south  aisle,  is  in  memory  of  his 
late  wife,  Mrs.  Amelia  Geer  Stevenson.     (See  page  294.) 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry  held  May  8,  1891,  G.  Hunter  Bartlett 
was  re-elected  clerk  of  the  vestry. 


190  History  of  St.   Paul's  Church. 

James  W.  Sanford's  resignation  as  treasurer  of  the  parish  was 
then  read,  and  the  following  resolutions  in  regard  to  it  were  unani- 
mously adopted,  and  a  copy  ordered  sent  to  Mr.  Sanford  : 

"  Resolved,  That  this  vestry  receives  with  great  regret  the  resignation  of  Mr.  James 
W.  Sanford,  who  for  twenty  years  has  been  the  valued  and  efficient  treasurer  of  the  parish. 

"Resolved,  That  while  we  are  constrained  by  Mr.  Sanford's  wishes  to  accept  his 
resignation,  we  wish  to  assure  him  that  we  do  so  most  unwillingly  and  with  a  full 
appreciation  of  the  great  services  rendered  to  the  parish  in  the  office  which  he  has  so 
ably  filled. 

"  Resolved,  That  we  offer  to  Mr.  Sanford  on  this  occasion  the  best  wishes  of  every 
member  of  the  vestry  for  his  health  and  prosperity." 

It  was  moved  and  carried  that  Philip  Joyce  be  elected  treasurer 
of  the  parish. 

On  motion,  the  wardens  were  appointed  a  committee  to  negotiate 
for  the  transfer  of  the  property  of  St.  Andrew's  Mission  from  the  war- 
dens and  vestry  of  St.  Paul's  Parish  to  the  parish  about  to  be  formed. 

At  a  vestry  meeting  held  June  5,  1891,  it  was  reported  for  the  com- 
mittee on  placing  a  tablet  in  the  new  Temple  Beth  Zion  on  Delaware 
Avenue,  that  the  tablet  had  been  placed  in  the  Temple,  and  was  well 
executed  and  satisfactory.  Rev.  Henry  A.  Adams  stated  that  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Aaron,  Rabbi  of  the  Temple,  had  written  a  cordial  letter  to  him, 
acknowledging  the  gift.     The  inscription  on  the  tablet  is  as  follows  : 

THIS  TABLET 

IS    PLACED    HERE    BY   THE    VESTRY    OF 

ST.   PAUL'S  CHURCH,  BUFFALO 

IN    GRATEFUL    ACKNOWLEDGMENT 

OF    THE    KINDNESS    OF   THE 

CONGREGATION 

TEMPLE  BETH  ZION 

IN    TENDERING    TO    THE    WARDENS    AND 

VESTRY   OF   ST.    PAUL'S   THE   USE   OF   THE 

TEMPLE    AFTER    THE    DESTRUCTION 

OF   THE   CHURCH    BY   FIRE,    ON 

THE   TENTH    DAY   OF   MAY, 

1888. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  191 

November  23,  1891,  at  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  it  was  moved  and 
carried  :  "  That  the  rector  and  clerk  be  authorized  to  sign  the  necessary 
application  to  the  court,  and  subsequently  to  sign  the  deed,  for  the 
transfer  of  the  Spruce  Street  property,  and  that  the  clerk  be  authorized 
and  directed  to  affix  the  seal  of  the  corporation  thereto."  This  was 
therefore  done.  The  property  on  Spruce  Street  had  been  purchased 
by  St.  Paul's  Church  in  1875  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  there  a  mis- 
sion chapel ;  the  chapel  was  built,  and  a  mission,  called  St.  Andrew's 
Mission,  was  carried  on  for  fifteen  years,  principally  supported  by 
St.  Paul's,  and  conducted  by  members  of  St.  Paul's  Guild  and 
others.  The  mission  grew  in  strength  and  importance  and  was,  in 
1891,  duly  incorporated  under  the  name  of  St.  Andrew's  Church, 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  according  to  the  provisions  of  the  statute  in  such  case 
made  and  provided,  and  was  received  into  communion  with  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church.  The  rector,  wardens  and  vestrymen  of  the  new 
church  therefore  made  application  to  St.  Paul's  to  have  the  property 
transferred  to  them.  (See  pages  117  and  393.)  They  afterwards  sold 
the  Spruce  Street  property,  and  built  a  new  St.  Andrew's  Church  on 
Goodell  Street. 

1892. 

February  9,  1892,  at  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  the  resignation  of 
the  Rev.  Henry  A.  Adams  as  rector  of  the  parish  was  read,  the  resig- 
nation to  take  effect  March  1,  1892.  The  following  resolutions  were 
unanimously  adopted  : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  resignation  of  the  Rev.  Henry  A.  Adams  of  the  rectorship  of 
St.  Paul's  Church  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  accepted,  to  take  effect  on  the  1st  day  of 
March,  1892. 

"Resolved,  That  we  wish  to  place  on  record  our  appreciation  of  the  intellectual 
force  and  ability  which  he  has  shown  during  his  connection  with  this  parish,  and  also 
of  the  earnestness  and  zeal  displayed  in  the  spiritual  oversight  of  St.  Paul's. 

"Resolved,  That  our  best  wishes  attend  him  in  his  new  and  important  field  of 
labor." 


192  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

The  Rev.  Henry  A.  Adams  was  born  at  Santiago  de  Cuba  in  1861, 
and  was  therefore  only  twenty-eight  years  old  when  he  became  rector 
of  St.  Paul's  in  1889.  He  had  been  first  assistant  minister  of  old 
Trinity  Church,  New  York  City,  his  duties  there  being  chiefly  confined 
to  preaching,  for  three  years  before  coming  to  Buffalo.  On  his  resig- 
nation of  the  rectorship  of  St.  Paul's  he  returned  to  New  York,  becom- 
ing rector  of  the  Church  of  the  Redeemer  in  that  city. 

February  9,  1892,  at  the  meeting  of  the  vestry,  the  resignation  of 
G.  Hunter  Bartlett  as  clerk  of  the  vestry  was  read.  He  had  asked 
some  months  before  to  be  relieved,  on  account  of  lack  of  time  for  dis- 
charging the  duties  of  clerk,  and  had  handed  in  his  formal  resigna- 
tion in  December,  1891,  having  been  clerk  since  May  1,  1885.  On 
motion  the  resignation  was  accepted,  "  with  the  thanks  of  the  vestry  to 
Dr.  G.  Hunter  Bartlett  for  his  valuable  and  long-continued  services." 

Charles  R.  Wilson  was  then  unanimously  elected  clerk  of  the  vestry. 

The  following  committee  to  obtain  a  new  rector  was  appointed  at 
this  meeting  :  Mr.  Walker,  chairman  ;  Messrs.  Thompson,  Wilson, 
Barnard,  Stringer,  Smith  and  Hayes.  On  April  27th,  Mr.  Viele  was 
added  to  the  committee. 

The  Rev.  Arthur  J.  Fidler,  assistant  minister  of  the  parish,  became 
the  minister  in  charge. 

April  18,  1892,  Easter  Monday,  at  the  annual  election,  the  following 
persons  were  chosen  for  wardens  and  vestrymen  :  William  H.  Walker 
and  A.  Porter  Thompson,  wardens  ;  John  Pease,  Albert  J.  Barnard, 
George  Alfred  Stringer,  James  R.  Smith,  Robert  P.  Wilson,  Edmund 
Hayes,  James  Sweeney  and  Sheldon  T.  Viele. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry  held  April  27,  1892,  Charles  R.Wilson 
was  re-elected  clerk  of  the  vestry,  and  Philip  Joyce  treasurer  of 
the  parish. 

At  the  same  meeting  a  letter  was  read  from  the  Rev.  Arthur  J. 
Fidler,  resigning  the  office  of  assistant  minister  in  charge  of  St.  Paul's, 
the  resignation  to  take  effect  April  30th,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  he 
had  accepted  a  call  to  the  rectorship  of  Christ  Church,  Greenburg,  Pa., 
upon  the  duties  of  which  he  expected  to  enter  May  1,  1892. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  193 

The  vestry  unanimously  resolved  : 

"  Whereas,  the  Rev.  Arthur  J.  Fidler,  assistant  minister  of  this  parish,  has  ten- 
dered his  resignation  to  take  effect  on  the  30th  inst.     Therefore  be  it, 

"Resolved,  That  in  accepting  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Fidler,  it  is  a  simple  act  of 
justice  to  express  to  him  our  appreciation  of  his  valuable  services  in  the  position  he 
has  held.  Since  the  rector  left  us  his  duties  have  been  especially  arduous  and  have 
been  most  faithfully  performed.  Our  best  wishes  will  follow  him  in  the  parish  at 
Greenburg,  and  we  hope  he  may  have  many  happy  and  prosperous  years  before  him." 

At  this  meeting  the  applications  of  nineteen  men  of  the  parish  for 
certificates  recommending  them  to  the  bishop  for  license  as  Lay  Read- 
ers were  presented  to  the  vestry  ;  the  applications  were  approved  and 
the  certificates  signed,  the  names  being  as  follows  : 

Judge  James  M.  Smith,  Robert  P.  Wilson,  Matthew  D.  Mann,  M.  D., 
Thomas  F.  Lothrop,  M.  D.,  Edward  C.  Walker,  Francis  S.  White, 
Frank  W.  Abbott,  M.  D.,  O.  H.  P.  Champlin,  Wm.  H.  Chapin,  Howard 
T.  Cornwell,  Henry  A.  Dann,  Wm.  F.  Dent,  Henry  S.  Gatley,  Henry 
R.  Hopkins,  M.  D.,  Montgomery  A.  Crockett,  M.  D.,  Alex.  S.  Hallo- 
well,  John  B.  Higgins,  Philip  S.  Smith  and  Charles  R.  Wilson.  Sep- 
tember 16,  1892,  the  names  of  Harry  S.  Sizer  and  James  A.  Lep- 
per  were  added  to  this  list.  These  applications  grew  out  of  the 
organization  of  the  Layman's  Missionary  League,  and  were  in  accord- 
ance with  its  regulations. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  July  1,  1892,  the  resignation  of  Philip 
Joyce  as  treasurer  of  the  parish  was  read,  and  a  vote  of  thanks 
was  extended  to  him  for  his  faithful  and  diligent  discharge  of  his 
duties  as  treasurer.  It  was  then  moved  and  carried  that  William  A. 
Joyce  be  elected  treasurer  of  the  parish. 

Having  accepted  the  call  to  the  rectorate  of  St.  Paul's,  the  Rev. 
Jacob  A.  Regester  arrived  in  Buffalo  on  Tuesday,  July  5,  1892,  and 
began  his  work  in  the  parish.  He  preached  his  first  sermon  as  rector 
of  St.  Paul's  on  the  following  Sunday,  July  1  oth.  Mr.  Regester,  with  his 
family,  came  to  Buffalo  from  Washington,  D.  C,  where  he  had  been  the 
rector  of  St.  John's  Church,  Georgetown  parish.  For  several  years  of 
his  earlier  ministry  he  had  been  assistant  at  Grace  Church,  Baltimore. 


194  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

At  the  vestry  meeting  of  September  16,  1892,  the  Hon.  James  M. 
Smith,  W.  H.  Walker  and  Dr.  H.  R.  Hopkins  were  chosen  delegates  to  the 
Diocesan  Council  to  be  held  at  Trinity  Chapel,  Buffalo,  September  20th. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  vestry,  held  on  Monday,  October  17, 
1892,  the  following  minute  was  presented  by  Mr.  Walker,  and,  on 
motion,  unanimously  adopted  : 

"  The  vestry  of  St.  Paul's  Church  have  received  the  intelligence  of  the  death  of 
Robert  P.  Wilson,  who  for  nearly  ten  years  has  been  a  member  of  this  body,  with 
profound  sorrow.  Our  friend  and  associate  was  a  man  of  most  attractive  personal 
qualities,  he  possessed  a  certain  nobility  of  character  which  endeared  him  to  all,  and 
especially  to  those  who,  like  ourselves,  came  in  close  contact  with  him. 

"  He  was  one  of  the  most  faithful  and  valuable  members  of  this  vestry,  nearly 
always  present  at  its  meetings,  and  ready  at  all  times  to  give  his  counsel  and  labor  to 
the  interest  of  St.  Paul's  Parish. 

"  This  was  especially  the  case  during  the  important  work  of  rebuilding  the  church. 
He  accepted  the  responsible  office  of  treasurer  of  the  Building  Fund,  and  discharged 
the  duties  of  that  position  with  remarkable  fidelity  and  the  most  perfect  accuracy. 
For  his  services  in  that  capacity  the  parish  owes  him  a  debt  of  gratitude  and  affection." 

Robert  Preston  Wilson,  one  of  Buffalo's  best-known  lawyers,  died 
in  Buffalo,  October  15,  1892.  He  was  born  in  Sackett's  Harbor,  N.  Y., 
and  was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  George  S.  Wilson  and  Julia  Preston 
Wilson,  and  grandson  of  Robert  Wilson,  an  officer  in  the  War  of  the 
Revolution,  by  inheritance  from  whom  he  was  a  member  of  the  Order 
of  the  Cincinnati,  being  the  only  member  of  that  historic  order  in  Buffalo. 

He  was  graduated  from  Williams  College  in  i860.  In  1861  he  en- 
listed as  a  private  in  the  16th  New  York  Yolunteers,  of  which  he  was 
afterwards  made  adjutant,  and  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Bull  Run.  In 
1862  he  was  appointed  Assistant  Adjutant-General  of  General  Joseph 
J.  Bartlett's  brigade,  the  6th  Army  Corps,  of  which  his  regiment  formed 
a  part,  and  in  that  capacity  served  in  General  McClellan's  Peninsular 
campaign  in  1862.  In  1863  Mr.  Wilson  was  commissioned  major  of  the 
121st  New  York  Regiment,  but  declined  the  appointment,  and  retained 
his  position  on  General  Bartlett's  staff.    With  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 


THE     REVEREND     J.    A.    REGESTER,   S.   T.    D. 
Rector  of  St.  Paul's  from  July  5,  1892. 


Photograph  by  Jansen,  October,  1902. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  195 

he  took  part  in  several  famous  battles.  He  was  severely  wounded  in 
1863,  and  was  honorably  discharged  from  the  service  for  permanent 
disability  in  February,  1864. 

Mr.  Wilson  came  to  Buffalo  in  the  spring  of  the  same  year  and 
entered  the  law  office  of  Ganson  &  Smith,  as  a  student.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1866.  In  1873,  Mr.  Wilson,  Charles  D.  Marshall 
and  Spencer  Clinton  established  the  law  firm  of  Marshall,  Clinton  & 
Wilson,  which  built  up  a  very  large  and  important  legal  business. 
Mr.  Wilson  was  married  in  1868  to  Miss  Margaret  L.,  only  daughter  of 
the  Hon.  James  M.  Smith.  Mrs.  Wilson  survives  him,  as  does  also 
his  nephew  and  adopted  son,  Charles  Robert  Wilson. 

In  October,  1892,  it  was  decided  by  the  vestry  to  press  the  claim  of 

St.  Paul's  Church  against  the  Buffalo  Natural  Gas  Fuel  Company  for 

damages  sustained  in  the  destruction  of  the  church,  May  10,   1888. 

The  following  letter  was  sent  : 

"Buffalo,  Oct.  26,  1892. 
"Daniel  O'Day,  Esq.,  President,  etc. 

"Den?-  Sir, — The  vestry  of  St.  Paul's  Church  having  been  informed  that  the  Natural 
Gas  Fuel  Company  has  settled  the  claims  of  the  insurance  companies  growing  out  of 
the  destruction  of  the  church  in  May,  1888,  deem  it  their  duty  to  present  to  the  com- 
pany the  claim  of  the  church  for  the  loss  sustained  beyond  the  amount  of  the  insurance. 
The  amount  of  this  loss  is  about  $14,000.  This  sum  does  not  include  any  allowance 
for  the  damage  sustained  by  the  churcb  in  being  deprived  of  the  use  of  it  for  nearly 
two  years.  The  members  of  St.  Paul's  and  others,  yourself  among  the  number,  sub- 
scribed very  liberally  towards  the  restoration  of  the  church.  More  than  $130,000 
was  expended  for  that  purpose,  and,  notwithstanding  the  sacrifices  and  generosity 
of  the  subscribers,  the  vestry  find  themselves  incumbered  with  a  debt  of  nearly 
$15,000.  I  present  this  matter  to  you  in  the  full  confidence  that  your  company  will 
certainly  be  willing  to  regard  as  favorably  the  claim  of  St.  Paul's  Church  as  that  of  the 
insurance  companies. 

"  I  remain  very  respectfully  yours,  etc., 

"(Signed.)  WILLIAM  H.  WALKER, 

"  Warden,  St.  Paul's  Church." 

In  November,  1892  the  Rev.  N.  S.  Stephens  became  assistant  to 
the  rector. 


196  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

1893. 

February  24,  1893,  it  was  decided  by  the  vestry,  in  view  of  a  deficit 
in  the  funds  of  the  parish,  that  a  circular  letter  should  be  sent  to  the 
individual  members  of  St.  Paul's,  asking  them  for  subscriptions  to  put 
the  parish  in  a  better  financial  position.  The  deficit,  as  stated  in  the 
circular,  was  about  $3,000,  and  the  causes  of  this  excess  of  expenditure 
were  exceptional.  The  rector,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Regester,  having  circu- 
lated the  subscription  paper,  on  Easter  Sunday,  April  2,  1893,  the  sub- 
scription, together  with  a  large  offering,  amounted  to  more  than  the 
sum  asked  by  the  vestry. 

On  Easter  Monday,  April  3,  1893,  the  following  persons  were 
elected  by  the  parish  :  William  H.  Walker  and  A.  Porter  Thompson, 
wardens  ;  and  John  Pease,  Albert  J.  Barnard,  George  Alfred  Stringer, 
James  R.  Smith,  Edmund  Hayes,  James  Sweeney,  Sheldon  T.  Viele 
and  Hobart  Weed,  vestrymen.  On  April  14th,  at  a  meeting  of  the  ves- 
try, Charles  R.  Wilson  was  re-elected  clerk  of  the  vestry  and  William 
A.  Joyce  was  re-elected  treasurer  of  the  parish. 

At  the  vestry  meeting,  held  April  25,  1893,  it  was  reported  by 
Messrs.  Walker,  Thompson  and  Viele,  the  committee  having  the  mat- 
ter in  charge,  that  the  Buffalo  Natural  Gas  Fuel  Company  would 
settle  with  the  parish  for  the  damages  to  the  church  by  the  explosion 
of  natural  gas  on  May  10,  1888,  for  the  sum  of  $7,500  in  cash.  It  was 
decided  by  the  vestry  to  accept  this  amount  rather  than  undertake 
the  large  expense  and  uncertainty  of  a  legal  contest.  The  rector  and 
clerk  of  the  vestry  were  therefore  authorized  to  execute  under  their 
hands  a  general  release  of  all  claims  for  damages,  which  was  done, 
and  the  sum  of  $7,500  was  paid  into  the  treasury  of  the  church. 

At  the  same  meeting,  Charles  R.  Wilson  was  elected  treasurer  of  St. 
Paul's  Church  Building  Fund  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death 
of  the  former  treasurer,  Robert  P.  Wilson. 

Under  the  auspices  of  the  Laymen's  Missionary  League,  a  series 
of    six   Wednesday   evening   sermons,    suggested    and    arranged    by 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  197 

Bishop  Coxe,  and  known  as  the  "  Sermons  for  the  Columbian  Year," 
was  preached  at  St.  Paul's,  Buffalo,  during  the  spring  and  early  summer 
of  1893.  These  sermons  were  delivered  by  some  of  the  most  eminent 
bishops  and  clergymen  of  the  Church,  and  were,  without  exception, 
brilliant  and  able.     The  speakers  and  their  subjects  were  as  follows  : 

General  subject  and  title,  "The  Holy  Catholic  Church"  and  Her  American 
Daughter. 

1st.  America  the  Study  of  Nations  ;  Her  Religious  Destiny.  Bishop  Perry  of 
Iowa,  April  5th. 

2d.  Denominationalism,  Past,  Present  and  Future.  Bishop  Thompson  of  Mis- 
sissippi, April  26th. 

3d.  The  Church  Catholic  from  the  Beginning  of  the  World.  Bishop  Coxe  of 
Western  New  York,  May  10th. 

4th.  Public  Worship,  Traditional,  Hebrew,  Christian,  in  America,  Past,  Present 
and  Future.     Bishop  Seymour  of  Springfield,  111.,  May  24th. 

5th.  The  Church  Catholic  and  Learning,  Letters,  Art,  Science,  Constitutional 
Government.     Prof.  William  Clark,  M.  A.  Oxon.,  LL.  D.,  June  7th. 

6th.  The  Church  and  Society,  the  Family,  the  Nation,  the  World,  Incarnation 
the  Common  Bond  of  Humanity.     Bishop  Garrett  of  Northern  Texas,  June  21st. 

At  the  vestry  meeting  of  August  4,  1893,  W.  H.  Walker,  James 
Sweeney  and  O.  H.  P.  Champlin  were  appointed  delegates  to  the  Dio- 
cesan Council  to  be  held  in  Rochester  in  September. 

In  1893,  Sister  Frances,  who  had  for  some  time  been  connected 
with  the  Church  Home  in  Buffalo,  was  appointed  as  Deaconess  in  St. 
Paul's  Church. 

In  September,  1893,  Lorenzo  Harris  succeeded  William  Graveson 
as  sexton. 

On  December  6,  1893,  the  parish  was  saddened  to  hear  of  the  death 
of  Mrs.  Edith  Kimberly  Walker,  the  wife  of  the  Senior  Warden  of  the 
parish,  William  H.  Walker.  Mrs.  Walker  was  the  youngest  daughter 
of  the  late  John  L.  Kimberly,  and  from  childhood  until  the  time  of  her 
death  was  one  of  the  most  faithful  members  of  St.  Paul's. 

"  It  was  in  a  life  rich  in  charitable  and  benevolent  work  that  Mrs. 
Walker  became  best  known  to  the  people  of  the  city.     Not  only  was 


198  History  of  St.  Pauls  Church. 

she  the  constant  associate  of  her  husband,  who  has  always  been  among 
the  foremost  in  every  good  work,  but  in  the  many  charities  of  the 
church  which  she  loved  so  well  her  presence  was  always  a  power.  For 
two  years  she  was  president  of  the  Missionary  and  Relief  Society,  which 
flourished  and  increased  its  power  for  good  during  her  administration 
of  its  affairs.  She  was  also  one  of  the  managers  of  the  Diet  Kitchen, 
and  one  of  the  board  of  associate  managers  of  the  Church  Charity 
Foundation.  There  were  in  the  city  few  women  whose  lovable  char- 
acter and  sincere  christian  devotion  were  understood  and  appreciated 
by  a  larger  circle  of  friends." 

Besides  her  husband,  Mrs.  Walker  leaves  three  children,  two  sons 
and  a  daughter. 

On  December  8th  the  vestry  of  the  church  unanimously  adopted  the 
following  memorial  and  resolution  relative  to  the  death  of  Mrs. Walker  : 

"  The  vestry  of  St.  Paul's  Church  has  learned  with  sorrow  of  the  death  of  Edith 
Kimberly  Walker,  wife  of  our  senior  warden. 

"  Mrs.  Walker  has  been  a  life-long  member  of  St.  Paul's.  Baptised  in  the  church, 
her  life  has  been  devoted  to  a  constant  and  consistent  support  of  its  principles  and 
practice. 

"  Her  unostentatious  kindness  and  her  cheerful  and  faithful  performance  of  duty 
have  endeared  her  to  all  in  the  parish.  Her  loss  will  be  deeply  felt  and  sincerely 
mourned  by  all  who  knew  her.  We  trust  that  the  beauty  of  her  example  will  inspire 
others  to  take  up  the  work  which  she  has  laid  down. 

"  Resolved,  That  we  tender  to  her  husband  and  family  our  deep  sympathy  in  their 
affliction,  and  assure  them  that  the  parish  mourns  with  them  in  our  common  loss." 

December  8,  1893,  the  rector  was  authorized  by  the  vestry  to  incur 
the  necessary  expense  in  printing  a  "  Year  Book  "  of  the  parish.  This 
was  accordingly  done,  and  the  first  "  Year  Book"  of  St.  Paul's  was 
issued,  dated  Advent,  1893.  It  was  written  and  admirably  compiled  by 
the  rector,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Regester,  and  gives  full  information  of  the  con- 
dition of  the  parish,  its  organization,  its  numerical  and  financial 
strength,  the  names  and  purposes  of  its  various  societies,  guilds,  etc., 
and  was  very  valuable  and  instructive  to  every  parishioner. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  199 

1894. 

On  Easter  Monday,  March  26,  1894,  the  following  persons  were 
elected  by  the  parish  :  William  H.  Walker  and  A.  Porter  Thompson, 
wardens;  and  John  Pease,  Albert  J.  Barnard,  James  R.  Smith,  Edmund 
Hayes,  James  Sweeney,  Sheldon  T.  Viele,  Hobart  Weed  and  Charles 
R  Wilson,  vestrymen. 

April  6,  1894,  at  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  Charles  R.  Wilson  was  re- 
elected clerk  of  the  vestry,  and  William  A.  Joyce  treasurer  of  the  parish. 

June  28,  1894,  Hobart  College  conferred  the  degree  of  S.  T.  D. 
(Doctor  of  Sacred  Theology)  on  the  Rev.  J.  A.  Regester,  the  rector 
of  St.  Paul's  Church, — a  well  merited  honor,  and  one  which  gave 
much  pleasure  to  the  many  friends  of  the  able  and  beloved  rector  of 
the  parish. 

July  20,  1894,  Mrs.  Louisa  M.  Weed  died,  in  her  ninety-second  year. 
She  had,  at  the  time  of  her  death,  lived  longer  in  Buffalo  than  any 
other  person  in  the  city,  and  she  was  also  the  oldest  member  of  St. 
Paul's  Parish.  Her  life  covers  almost  the  entire  history  of  the  city, 
and  she  lived  here  when  the  place  was  called  New  Amsterdam.  Mrs. 
Weed  was  about  eleven  years  old  when  Buffalo  was  burned  by  the 
British  in  1813,  and  she  remembered  the  event  vividly.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Dr.  Cyrenius  Chapin,  and  wife  of  Thaddeus  Weed,  whom 
she  survived  many  years.  They  had  three  children,  the  late  DeWitt 
C.  Weed,  the  late  Mrs.  Louisa  Weed  Hale,  and  Hobart  Weed,  who 
survives  his  mother.     (See  pages  13,  120,  121.) 

December  2,  1S94,  being  the  first  Sunday  in  Advent,  the  pledge,  or 
envelope,  system  of  offerings  was  introduced  into  the  parish. 


1895. 

March  9,  1895,  the  vestry  decided  to  purchase  the  property,  No.  61 
Johnson's  Park,  known  as  the  David  S.  Bennett  house,  for  the  pur- 
poses of  a  rectory  for  the  parish. 


200 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 


April  15,  1895,  being  Easter  Monday,  at  a  meeting  of  the  congre- 
gation, held  in  the  church,  the  following  church  wardens  and  vestry- 
men were  elected  : 

William  H.  Walker,  senior  warden,  A.  Porter  Thompson,  junior 
warden  ;  John  Pease,  Albert  J.  Barnard,  Edmund  Hayes,  James 
Sweeney,  Sheldon  T.  Viele,  James  R.  Smith,  Hobart  Weed  and  Charles 
R.  Wilson,  vestrymen. 

April  23,  1895,  at  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  Charles  R.  Wilson  was 
elected  clerk  of  the  vestry  and  William  A.  Joyce  treasurer  of  the 
parish,  for  the  ensuing  year. 

In  the  report  of  the  finance  committee,  presented  to  the  vestry  at 
this  meeting,  is  the  following  :...."  We  wish  to  put  on  record  the 
important  purchase  made  ....  of  a  rectory  in  Johnson's  Park.  A 
house,  every  way  adapted  to  the  purpose,  was  bought  for  $20,000. 
$5,000  was  paid  down,  and  the  balance  is  on  bond  and  mortgage  at 
five  per  cent.  The  $5,000  was  raised  by  subscription."  ....  The 
vestry  felt  justified  in  making  the  purchase  at  this  time  and  assuming 
this  debt,  as  the  rector  offered  to  pay  personally  the  interest  on  the 
mortgage  and  one-half  the  taxes  ;  this  was  not  intended  to  be  a  per- 
manent arrangement,  but  was  to  last  only  until  the  parish  should  be  in 
a  position  to  relieve  the  rector  from  this  responsibility.    (See  page  242.) 


IRectors  jfunfc  Subscription. 


A  Friend,     .... 
Mrs.  Robert  P.  Wilson, 
Mrs.  Laetitia  P.  Viele, 
Mrs.  Mary  Evans, 
Mrs.  Agnes  L.  Warren, 
Mrs.  Clara  B.  Warren, 
Mrs.  Van  Bokkelen, 
George  C.  Greene, 
Robert  Palen,    .     . 
E.  H.  Hutchinson, 
James  Sweeney,     . 
Edmund  Hayes,     . 


$  25.00 
100.  co 
1 50. 00 
200.00 
100.00 
50.00 
100.00 
100.00 
50.00 
500.00 
250.00 
500.00 


Edward  Bennett, $200.00 

S.  Douglas  Cornell 100.00 

William  Y.  Warren,    ....  50.00 

Mrs.  George  H.  Bryant,      .     .  100.00 

James  R.  Smith, 500.00 

A.  P.  Thompson, 300.00 

M.  D.  Mann 100.00 

W.  H.  Walker, 500.00 

A.  J.  Barnard, 2CO  00 

James  M.  Smith 500.00 

Hobart  Weed, 250.00 

H.   R.  Hopkins, 100  00 

$5,025.00 


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History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  201 

In  the  report  of  the  finance  committee,  mentioned  above,  is  also 
the  following  :  "  To  speak  again  of  the  working  of  the  pledge  system  : 
We  have  received  on  the  twenty-one  Sundays  it  has  been  in  operation, 
$2,173.40;  the  amount  of  pledges  unpaid  is  very  small  indeed,  and 
it  seems  to  have  the  elements  of  certainty  and  regularity  to  a 
remarkable  extent."  ..... 

May  6,  1895,  at  a  meeting  of  the  vestry  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  held 
at  the  Parish  House,  Mr.  Walker  stated  that  the  sad  intelligence  had 
been  received  of  the  death  of  Mrs.  Matilda  C.  Thompson,  wife  of  the 
junior  warden  of  the  parish,  and  moved  the  following  resolutions, 
which  were  unanimously  adopted  : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  vestry  of  St.  Paul's  Church  have  heard  with  profound  sorrow 
the  announcement  of  the  death  of  Mrs.  Matilda  C.  Thompson,  the  wife  of  the  junior 
warden  of  this  parish.  Mrs.  Thompson  has  been  for  many  years  a  member  of  St. 
Paul's,  and  will  be  deeply  regretted.  In  all  the  relations  of  life  she  illustrated  the  best 
qualities  of  a  pure  and  exalted  character.  Her  faithful  devotion  to  her  family  and 
friends  was  known  of  all,  and  she  leaves  a  memory  that  will  be  cherished  by  all  who 
knew  her. 

"Resolved,  That  we  wish  to  offer  to  her  husband  and  family  the  assurances  of  our 
heartfelt  sympathy." 

At  the  same  meeting  W.  H.  Walker,  Dr.  H.  R.  Hopkins  and  James 
Sweeney  were  appointed  delegates  to  the  Diocesan  Council,  to  be  held 
at  Lockport,  May  20,  1895. 

In  July,  1895,  died  James  W.  Sanford.  For  many  years  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Sanford  were  prominent  members  of  St.  Paul's,  and  valued 
friends  and  neighbors  of  the  late  Dr.  Shelton.  Mr.  Sanford  was 
treasurer  of  the  parish  from  1871  until  1891.  He  was  nearly  eighty 
years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  had  lived  in  Buffalo  since  1836. 

The  third  "  Year  Book  "  of  the  parish,  dated  Advent,  1895,  states 
that  the  present  number  of  communicants  is  802. 

In  November,  1895,  the  Rev.  John  S.  Littell  came  to  St.  Paul's  as 
assistant  to  the  rector,  succeeding  the  Rev.  X.  S.  Stephens,  who  had 
resigned  the  position  in  August. 


202  History  of  St.  Pauls  Church. 

1896. 

March  21,  1S96,  the  following  resolutions,  relative  to  a  change  in 
the  day  of  election  of  the  vestry,  were  adopted  : 

' '  Resolved,  That  this  vestry  recommend  that  the  date  of  the  annual  election  of  this 
corporation  be  changed  from  Monday  in  Easter  week  to  Monday  in  the  week  begin- 
ning with  the  First  Sunday  in  Advent ;  that  the  number  of  vestrymen  be  changed 
from  eight  to  nine  ;  and  that  the  terms  of  the  churchwardens  be  changed  so  that  one 
warden  shall  be  elected  annually. 

"  Resolved,  That  this  vestry  recommend  that  the  qualifications  of  voters,  and  the 
qualifications  of  wardens  and  vestrymen  of  this  corporation,  be  changed  to  conform 
in  both  cases  to  the  requirements  of  Section  30  of  Chapter  723  of  the  Laws  of  this 
State,  passed  in  the  year  1895." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  congregation  of  St.  Paul's,  held  in  the  church 
on  Easter  Monday,  April  6,  1896,  the  rector,  the  Rev.  Dr.  J.  A.  Reg- 
ester,  presiding,  the  following  persons  were  elected  wardens  and  ves- 
trymen for  the  ensuing  year  : 

William  H.  Walker,  Senior  Warden,  A.  Porter  Thompson,  Junior 
Warden  ;  Vestrymen,  John  Pease,  Albert  J.  Barnard,  Edmund  Hayes, 
James  Sweeney,  Sheldon  T.  Viele,  James  R.  Smith,  Hobart  Weed, 
Charles  R.  Wilson. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  congregation,  held  as  stated,  on  Easter 
Monday,  April  6,  1896,  the  resolutions  adopted  at  the  vestry  meeting 
of  March  21,  1896,  were  publicly  read  and  submitted  to  the  meeting, 
and  the  meeting  thereupon  ratified  the  same  by  a  vote  of  nineteen  in 
favor  thereof  and  no  votes  against  the  same.  The  Monday  next  after 
the  First  Sunday  in  Advent  was  the  date  determined  on  by  said  meet- 
ing for  the  annual  election  of  the  parish  ;  nine  was  the  number  of 
vestrymen  decided  on  by  said  meeting,  and  it  was  also  determined  to 
thereafter  elect  churchwardens  so  that  the  term  of  one  warden  will 
expire  annually. 

This  altering  of  the  old  custom  of  the  parish  seemed  best  in  view  of 
the  fact  that,  following  the   passage  of  the  State  law  in  1895,  making 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  203 

it  legal  for  the  Protestant  Episcopal  churches  of  the  State  to  make  this 
change,  most  of  the  prominent  parishes  of  the  State  had  availed 
themselves  of  the  right  to  do  so.  Advent  Sunday  being  the  beginning 
of  the  Church  Year,  the  change  seemed  a  fitting  one. 

Easter  Monday  had  been  the  day  of  election  at  St.  Paul's  since  the 
foundation  of  the  parish,  the  meeting  of  Monday,  February  10,  181 7, 
for  the  organization  of  the  parish  and  the  election  of  the  first  vestry, 
having  resolved  unanimously:  "  That  Easter  Monday  hereafter  be  the 
day  for  the  annual  election  of  their  successors,  and  that  the  said 
church  be  known  and  distinguished  by  the  name  of  St.  Paul's  Church 
in  Buffalo." 

(See  page  9,  this  volume.) 

For  some  time  a  movement  had  been  on  foot  among  the  women  of 
St.  Paul's  for  the  building  of  a  new  Parish  House.  This  movement 
having  received  the  approval  of  the  authorities  of  the  parish,  a  com- 
mittee of  women  was  formed  representing  the  different  parish  organiza- 
tions most  interested  in  having  a  building  better  suited  to  the  various 
branches  of  parish  work  ;  and  the  securing  of  subscriptions  for  the 
necessary  funds  was  enthusiastically  begun. 

At  the  vestry  meeting  of  April  20,  1896,  the  rector  stated  that  the 
women  of  the  parish  who  had  in  charge  the  work  of  raising  a  fund  for 
the  erection  of  a  new  Parish  House  had  already  secured  subscrip- 
tions amounting  in  the  aggregate  to  more  than  $20,000,  and  he  asked 
that  a  committee  might  be  appointed  to  take  charge  of  the  construction 
of  the  new  building.  On  motion  of  Mr.  Walker,  it  was  resolved  :  "  That 
a  building  committee,  consisting  of  Edmund  Hayes,  chairman,  and 
Horatio  C.  Harrower  and  Charles  R.  Wilson,  be  appointed  with  full 
power  to  construct  a  new  Parish  House  on  the  site  of  the  present 
one,  to  cost  when  completed  not  more  than  $20,000."  On  motion  of 
Mr.  Weed,  the  rector  and  Mr.  Walker  were  added  to  the  building 
committee. 

At  the  same  meeting,  W.  H.  Walker,  A.  Porter  Thompson  and  Dr. 
Henry  R.  Hopkins  were  appointed  delegates  to  the  Diocesan  Conven- 


204  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

tion  to  be  held  in  Buffalo,  May  19,  1896.  Charles  R.  Wilson  was 
elected  clerk  of  the  vestry,  and  William  A.  Joyce  treasurer  of  the  par- 
ish for  the  ensuing  year. 

On  Monday,  July  20,  1896,  the  news  was  received  in  Buffalo  of  the 
sudden  death,  at  the  Sanitarium  at  Clifton  Springs,  N.  Y.,  of  the  Rt. 
Rev.  Arthur  Cleveland  Coxe,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Western  New 
York. 

Bishop  Coxe  had  been  somewhat  exhausted  and  prostrated  by  his 
pastoral  and  other  manifold  duties,  and  had  gone  from  his  home  in 
Buffalo,  with  Mrs.  Coxe,  to  Clifton  Springs  for  rest,  on  July  8th.  He 
was  apparently  much  improved  in  health,  and  was  about  to  return  to 
Buffalo,  when  the  summons  came,  and  he  sank  quietly  and  painlessly 
into  rest.  The  bishop  was  born  May  10,  18 18,  and  was  therefore  sev- 
enty-eight years  of  age. 

A  short  account  of  the  principal  events  in  his  most  useful  and  beau- 
tiful life  will  be  found  at  page  98  of  this  volume. 

The  body  of  the  bishop  was  taken  in  solemn  procession  from  Clif- 
ton Springs  to  Geneva  on  Tuesday  afternoon  at  four  o'clock,  following 
a  simple  service  which  had  been  held  in  the  chapel  of  the  Sanitarium. 
The  procession  was  met  on  the  outskirts  of  Geneva  by  the  local  clergy, 
and  it  was  nearly  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening  when  they  reached  the 
ivy-clad  Trinity  Church,  where  a  brief  service  was  held,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Nelson  officiating.  The  lying  in  state  was  in  Trinity  Church.  The 
coffin  of  oak,  the  top  bevelled  in  the  form  of  the  cross,  was  placed  just 
before  the  chancel  of  the  old  church,  where  thirty-one  years  before  the 
dead  bishop  had  been  consecrated  to  the  Episcopate.  This  was  done 
in  compliance  with  his  wish,  often  expressed,  that  his  body  after  death 
and  before  burial  might  rest  at  the  altar-step  where  he  took  his  solemn 
consecration  vows. 

The  body  was  clothed  in  the  vestments  in  which  he  had  been  con- 
secrated bishop,  and  by  his  side  was  his  long- used  bishop's  staff,  of 
wood.     While  in  the  church  the  casket  was  covered  with  a  purple  pall, 


BISHOP     COXE. 


From  a  photograph  by  Irving  Saunders, 
Rochester,  N.  Y.,  taken  about  1892. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  205 

two  branches  of  palm  crossed  at  the  foot,  and  at  the  head  his  bishop's 
mitre.     The  plate  on  the  coffin  bore  the  inscription  : 

ARTHUR  CLEVELAND  COXE, 

Born,  May  10,  1818. 
Died,  July  20,  1896. 

After  the  customary  weekly  communion  had  been  celebrated,  the 
coffin  at  the  foot  of  the  chancel  was  opened,  and  the  people  were 
admitted.  Great  numbers  came,  old  and  young,  rich  and  poor,  to  look 
upon  the  noble  and  well-beloved  face  of  their  dead  bishop. 

The  vestry  of  Trinity  acted  as  a  guard  of  honor  ;  and  six  of  the 
clergy  of  the  diocese,  two  for  each  night,  kept  constant  and  loving 
watch  in  the  church  through  the  hours  of  darkness. 

The  funeral  services  were  held  in  Trinity  Church,  Geneva,  N.  Y., 
on  Friday,  July  24,  1896.  No  sermon  was  preached  or  eulogy  pro- 
nounced ;  following  Bishop  Coxe's  often-expressed  wish,  the  service 
was  as  unostentatious  as  possible,  in  accordance  with  the  custom  of  the 
Church  which  buries  priest  and  layman,  rich  and  poor,  with  the  same 
simple,  beautiful  words.  He  counted  it  one  of  the  glories  of  the 
Church  that  all  are  equal  in  life  and  in  death  : 

"  Our  Mother  the  Church  hath  never  a  child 

To  honour  before  the  rest. 
But  she  singeth  the  same  for  mighty  kings 

And  the  veriest  babe  on  her  breast  ; 
And  the  bishop  goes  down  to  his  narrow  bed 

As  the  ploughman's  child  is  laid, 
And  alike  she  blesseth  the  dark-browed  serf 

And  the  chief  in  his  robes  arrayed." 

The  bishop's  body  was  laid  to  rest  by  the  side  of  the  graves  of 
three  of  his  children,  in  the  plot  of  ground  set  apart  in  the  quiet  church- 
yard of  Trinity,  by  act  of  the  vestry  and  permission  of  the  local 
authorities,  as  the  private  burial  place  for  Bishop  Coxe  and  the  mem- 
bers of  his  family. 


206  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

In  his  youth,  in  his  "Christian  Ballads,"  he  had  sung  : 

"  I  would  sleep  where  the  church-bells  aye  ring  out, 
I  would  rise  by  the  house  of  prayer 

0  let  me  rest  in  the  churchyard  then, 
And  hard  by  the  church's  gate  ; 

'Tis  there  I  pray  to  my  Saviour  Christ, 

And  I  will,  till  mine  eye  is  dim, 

That,  sleep  as  I  may  in  this  fevered  life, 

1  may  rest,  at  last,  in  Him." 

Mrs.  Coxe  did  not  long  survive  her  husband,  but  died  February  16, 
1898,  and  was  buried  at  his  side  in  Trinity  churchyard,  Geneva,  N.  Y. 

The  passing  away  of  Bishop  Coxe  called  forth  a  great  number 
of  tributes  from  men  of  other  faiths  and  from  men  of  no  faith,  as 
well  as  from  those  of  his  own  communion.  With  his  most  remarkable 
gifts  as  a  scholar,  poet,  and  citizen  of  the  world,  with  his  cultured 
manners  of  a  school  which  is  unfortunately  fast  passing  away,  all  of 
which  would  have  brought  him  distinction  in  any  secular  walk  of  life 
he  might  have  chosen,  he  bent,  instead,  all  his  abilities  and  energies 
and  gifts  to  the  up-building  of  Christ's  Church,  with  a  faith  as  simple, 
as  beautiful  and  as  unshaken  as  that  of  a  little  child,  but  illuminated 
by  a  learning  and  a  capacity  for  depth  of  thought  and  reasoning 
which  few  possess. 

In  his  poems,  and  especially  in  his  "Christian  Ballads,"  first  pub- 
lished in  1840,  the  offices  and  accessories  of  the  services  of  the  Church 
seem  to  burst  forth  into  bloom  like  Aaron's  rod.  At  a  time  in  this 
country  when  much  in  the  services  and  appointments  of  the  Church 
seemed  lacking  in  a  due  sense  of  beauty,  the  text  applied  to  these 
poems  seemed  particularly  appropriate  : 

"  He  appointed  singers  before  the  Lord,  that  should  praise  the 
Beauty  of  Holiness." 

This  sense  of  the  sacred  beauty  underlying  and  vivifying  the  serv- 
ices and  ideas  of  the  Church,  going  hand  in  hand  with  his  priestly 
consecration,  was  to  some  extent  the  natural  outcome  of  his  deeply 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  237 

poetical  nature,  which  saw  beauty  in  all  the  works  of  God  ;  but  his 
expression  of  that  feeling,  an  expression  at  once  manly  and  most 
devotional,  was  unique  at  the  time,  and  has  been  a  potent  factor  in 
bringing  many  into  the  Church,  and  in  reanimating  the  loyalty  of 
churchmen. 

The  beauty  and  dignity  of  his  face  and  bearing  typified  most  truly 
the  beauty  of  his  mind  and  heart,  and  the  clear  flame  of  his  soul.  It 
has  been  well  said  of  him  that  "  by  his  example  he  speaks  to  every 
layman,  calling  him  to  wear  upon  his  breast  '  the  white  flower  of 
a  blameless  life.'  " 

A  solemn  memorial  service  for  the  late  Bishop  Coxe  was  held 
in  St.  Paul's  Church,  Buffalo,  on  the  evening  of  Monday,  October 
5,  1896.  The  church  was  filled  to  its  utmost  capacity  by  a  large  con- 
gregation, many  of  whom  stood  during  the  entire  service. 

The  procession  as  it  entered  the  church  was  most  impres- 
sive. The  combined  choirs  of  St.  Paul's  and  the  Church  of  the 
Ascension  came  first,  singing  the  hymn,  "  Hark  !  Hark  !  my  Soul," 
preceded  by  the  crucifer  and  acolytes.  About  one  hundred  clergy  of 
the  diocese  followed,  accompanied  by  numbers  of  clergymen  from 
other  dioceses.  Last  in  the  procession  was  the  Rt.  Rev.  William  Cros- 
well  Doane,  Bishop  of  Albany.  After  the  Evening  Service  had  been 
sung,  the  Rev.  Arthur  C.  Powell,  rector  of  Grace  Church,  Baltimore, 
who  came  to  Buffalo  especially  to  represent  that  church,  read  a  memo- 
rial prepared  by  the  vestry  of  his  parish,  in  which  they  expressed  their 
sympathy  with  the  Diocese  of  Western  New  York.  He  then  gave  an 
eloquent  account  of  the  good  work  done  by  Bishop  Coxe  during  his 
rectorate  at  Grace  Church  from  1854  to  1863,  and  of  the  love  and 
veneration  in  which  his  memory  is  held  there. 

The  chancel  of  St.  Paul's  was  filled  with  the  white-vested  clergy, 
and  many  ministers  of  the  different  denominations  in  the  city  occupied 
the  front  pews  reserved  for  them,  and  took  this  opportunity  of  showing 
their  respect  to  the  memory  of  one  who  had  wielded  so  strong  an 
influence  on  all  thinking  men  about  him.     Bishop   Doane   made  the 


208  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

memorial  address,  which  was  a  masterly  one,  a  most  eloquent  and 
moving  tribute  to  the  memory  of  the  beloved  bishop  who  for  over 
thirty  years  had  been  the  Diocesan  of  Western  New  York,  and  one  of 
the  strong  men  of  the  Church. 

It  is  only  possible  to  give  here  a  few  passages  from  the  address  of 
liishop  Doane,  but  these  are  so  characteristic  and  so  appreciative  of 
him  who  so  often  ministered  to  the  people  of  what  he  took  pleasure  in 
calling  his  Cathedral  Church,  that  it  seems  most  fitting  to  preserve  them 
here.     Bishop  Doane  took  for  his  text  the  words  from  I.  Corinthians  : 

"  I  thank  my  God  always  on  your  behalf  for  the  grace  of  God  which  is  given  you 
by  Jesus  Christ :  That  in  everything  ye  are  enriched  by  Him,  in  all  utterance,  and  in 
all  knowledge." 

He  said  in  part : 

.  .  .  .  "  Sad-hearted  in  the  present,  ....  there  is  neither  sadness  nor  anxious- 
ness  as  we  look  back,  for  we  are  looking  back  upon  the  path  of  the  righteous,  the 
path  of  the  shining  light,  that  shineth  more  and  more  unto  the  perfect  day.  We 
thank  our  God  on  this  and  on  every  remembrance  of  him  with  joy,  for  the  Grace  of 
God  that  was  given  him  by  Jesus  Christ. 

"  I  need  hardly  say  that  the  words  of  this  passage,  descriptive  of  that  Church, 
which,  more  than  any  other,  was  endowed  with  a  real  coruscation  of  extraordinary 
splendor  in  its  gifts,  lie  out  before  us  in  three  lines  of  thought  —  richness,  utterance, 
knowledge  —  and  apply  themselves  in  three  salient  features  of  the  dead  bishop's  char- 
acter—  who,  being  dead,  yet  speaketh  —  in  the  wealth  of  his  spiritual  and  natural 
endowments,  in  the  wide  range  and  accuracy  of  his  learning,  and  in  the  force  and 
felicity  of  his  speech 

"  You  do  not  care  to  hear  me  deal  to-night  with  the  dates  and  details  of  his  life. 
That  must  be  left  for  the  larger  and  fuller  record  which  some  careful  and  skillful  hand 

will  make,  I  trust,  ere  long But  so  far  as  this  preaching  is  concerned,  I  have 

to  deal  with  general  effects  and  not  with  the  sidelights  or  the  shadows  that  fill  in  the 
finished  outline.  A  man  who  walks  along  a  lovely  road,  bordered  with  beauty  at 
every  step,  and  tracing  its  way  on  and  up  to  even  fairer  scenes,  is  not  concerned  with, 
and  does  not  notice,  the  mere  mile  stones  which  mark  a  distance  that  he  does  not  feel, 
and  measure  intervals  over  which  he  is  in  no  haste  to  pass 

"  You  will  forgive  me  if  I  speak  of  your  late  bishop  more  in  this  larger  relation  to 
the  whole  Church  than  in  his  relation  as  to  your  diocese.  His  estimate  of  his  office 
was,  in  my  judgment,  the  rightful  one.     He  was  consecrated  '  a  bishop  in  the  Church 


History  of  St.  Paul 's  Cliurch.  209 

of  God.'  The  field  of  his  personal  and  immediate  duty  was,  of  course,  in  the  diocese 
which  he  first  shared  with  the  great  DeLancey,  and  then  succeeded  him  in  its  full  care. 
But  the  diocesan  bishop  is,  first  of  all,  a  bishop  in  the  Church  of  God.  No  detail  of 
visitation,  of  administration,  of  travel,  may  be  neglected  therefor ;  but  he  had  no 
sympathy — and  I  have  none  —  with  the  measurement  of  Episcopal  service  by  the 
number  of  miles  traveled,  or  the  number  of  parishes  visited,  or  the  number  of  persons 
confirmed.  Like  the  mint  and  anise  and  cummin  of  the  Pharisees,  all  these  things 
are  to  be  done,  and  he  did  them  patiently,  faithfully,  and  most  acceptably 

"And  so  the  great  heart  of  your  bishop  reached  out  to  the  struggling  little  church 
in  Hayti,  whose  cradling  days  he  nursed  and  tended  ;  beat  with  a  far  higher  and  truer 
than  Byronic  enthusiasm  for  the  ancient  Church  of  Greece  ;  honored  and  loved  and 
longed  for  closer  communion  with  the  mother  Church  of  England  ;  did  valiant  battle 
more  than  once  at  Lambeth  and  in  the  councils  of  our  own  Church  by  speech  and  by 
letter  for  the  rights  of  the  Old  Catholics  in  Germany  and  Switzerland  ;  prayed  and 
labored  and  contended  for  the  restoration  of  the  liberties  and  loyalties  to  primitive 
truth  and  order  of  the  old  Gallican  Church  ;  stood  with  unquenchable  zeal,  even  when 
some  of  the  idols  were  rudely  shattered,  for  the  movement  in  Mexico  for  interior 
reform  ;  and  labored  and  longed  to  break  the  barriers  down  which  part  us  from  our 
brothers  in  other  Christian  bodies 

"Enriched  !  Is  not  this  first  a  thought  of  soils  ;  not  those  which  years  of  cost 
and  toil  have  reclaimed  into  a  partial  fertileness  from  dryness  of  sand,  or  hardness  of 
rock,  or  shallowness  of  earth  ;  but  just  a  natural  bit  of  ground,  a  virgin  soil  of  inex- 
haustible depth,  which  answers  instantly  to  every  seed  that  falls  from  the  wing  of 
passing  breeze  or  flying  bird,  or  from  the  careless  flinging  of  the  sower's  hand  ;  and 
answers  to  every  drop  of  rain  and  every  beam  of  sunshine,  and  every  pearl  of  dew, 
with  the  quick  response  of  instant  greenness,  which  grows  faster  even  than  the  sea- 
sons fly,  into  the  golden  glory  of  an  early  harvest He  had  that  rare  respon- 
siveness in  his  nature  which  kept  his  eye  and  ear  awake,  and  opened  every  pore  of  his 
whole  being  to  receive  the  influence  of  the  place,  the  moment,  the  surrounding.  Sen- 
sitive as  a  strung  harp  to  every  breath  of  wind,  to  every  lightest  finger  touch,  and 
catching  as  the  mirror  of  a  still  woodland  lake,  every  tree  leaf,  every  folding  of 
the  mountains,  every  fleeciest  cloud,  to  reproduce  it  in  reflectiou  ;  and  ready  to  move 
in  instant  ripples  with  the  least  breath  of  wind  that  ruffled  its  surface.  It  was  this 
that  made  his  pastoral  power  so  great,  by  his  quick  sympathy,  his  ability  to  enter  into 
and  share  in  whatever  interested  the  person  with  whom  he  dealt 

"  Knowledge  !  First  among  the  natural  and  the  spiritual  endowments  of  your 
bishop  wherewith  he  was  most  enriched  in  knowledge,  I  should  count,  speaking  not  of 
physical  and  external  characteristics,  which  were  abundantly  bestowed  upon  him,  the 
unusual  eagerness  of  acquisition,    the  accurate  thoroughness  of    retaining,  and  the 


210  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

instantaneous  readiness  of  recalling,  which  marked  the  operation  of  his  mind.  His 
knowledge  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  was  deep  and  devout.  His  spirit,  so  in  accord 
with  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God,  caught  their  inner  meaning  with  a  quickness  which 
opened  new  revelations  to  his  soul ;  and  his  own  poetic  gifts  were  perpetually  flashing 
sparks  of  light  from  some  new  kindling  of  a  passage  of  God's  Word.  '  Mighty  in 
the  Scriptures,'  he  certainly  was  one  of  the  class  of  minds,  with  whom,  when  as  they 
walk  sad,  oftentimes,  in  twilight  meditations,  the  Master  joins  himself,  as  to  the  two  at 
Emmaus,  and  opens  the  Scripture  to  their  eyes,  and  their  eyes  to  the  Scripture,  till 
they  see  Him.  As  a  student  of  Patristic  Theology,  he  had  few  equals  in  America, 
and  his  familiarity  with  the  Fathers  not  only  made  him  a  difficult  and  dangerous 
antagonist  in  theological  controversy,  but  enabled  him  to  do  great  service  to  English 
students  by  his  work  in  connection  with  the  editing  of  the  Anti-Nicene  Fathers.  And 
what  he  did  not  know  about  the  Petrine  claims  and  the  Roman  assumptions  in  Scrip- 
ture, Council  and  History  was  not  worth  knowing.  His  knowledge  in  liturgies  was 
very  thorough  and  full,  and  his  ear  was  quick  to  catch  the  perfect  rhythm  of  praise 
and  word,  which  so  absolutely  marks  off,  plainly  as  poetry  is  marked  off  from  prose, 
the  language  of  a  liturgy  from  the  pompous  verbosity  of  most  modern  prayers. 

' '  He  was  an  expert  in  the  domain  of  ecclesiastical  history.  The  story  of  the  Church 
from  the  beginning,  and  the  story  of  the  Churches,  whether  in  France,  or  Spain,  or 
England,  or  in  the  older  East,  he  knew,  as  an  intelligent  patriot  knows  the  story  of  his 
own  country—  and  for  the  same  reason,  namely,  the  patriotism  and  intelligence  of  his 
citizenship  of  the  Civitas  Dei. 

"And  outside  of  all  this  he  had  the  most  perfect  familiarity  with  English  history 
and  English  literature,  which  lent  great  beauty  to  his  own  choice  language,  gave 
charm  and  variety  to  his  conversation,  and  the  power  of  illustration  and  quotation 
ready  and  apt,  which  flavored  his  speech  with  treasures  of  fact  and  expression.  And 
all  these  things,  which  he  had  easily  acquired  and  accurately  remembered,  were  at  his 
instant  command.  Whatever  may  be  said  or  thought  of  his  prepared  sermons,  his 
unprepared,  unexpected,  sudden  and  spontaneous  speeches  sparkled  with  a  brilliancy 
that  caught  every  color  of  the  rainbow,  and  bristled  with  an  array  of  facts  and  refer- 
ences which  commanded  the  attention  and  admiration  of  all  who  heard  him.  I  have 
never  heard  from  any  man  such  an  array  of  precedents  and  authorities  of  Scriptural 
quotations,  references  to  Canon  Law,  old  and  new,  of  judicial  decisions,  of  historical 
instances,  all  uttered  in  words  that  burned  and  glowed  with  tenderness  and  intensity, 
as  the  bishops  will  remember,  in  a  speech  of  his  which  had  not  a  moment  for  prepara- 
tion, in  council  at  Minneapolis  last  October,  during  the  session  of  the  general  conven- 
tion, at  which  meeting  he  seemed  to  me  fresher  and  brighter  and  clearer  than  he  had 
for  several  years  before,  as  though  his  very  sorrows  had  sublimated  his  spiritual  pow- 
ers, and  the  lamp  was  leaping  to  a  brighter  flame  before  it  flickered  to  its  fading  spark. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  2 1 1 

"  Utterance  !  The  current  that  set  most  strongly  through  the  natural  temperament 
of  the  bishop  was  the  poetic  current,  in  the  best  sense  of  that  word,  and  it  had  its 
spring  and  rise  neither  in  Arathusa  or  Castaly,  but  in  '  Siloa's  brook,  which  flows  fast 
by  the  oracle  of  God.'     Now  the  poetic  nature  is  not  only  creative  and  not  chiefly 

imaginative.     It  is  intensely  the  gift  of  the  seer And  when  the  seer  speaks, 

he  not  only  reveals  but  prophesies.  Eminently  Bishop  Coxe  had  this  gift,  for  he  was 
a  true  poet.  And  when  he  wrote  '  Dreamland,'  fifty  years  ago,  he  was  seeing  and 
prophesying.  Whatever  dreams  he  dreamed  were,  like  Jacob's  in  a  sleep  that  was 
pillowed  upon  stone,  in  much  hardness  and  loneliness,  in  the  sense  of  Divine  presence, 
and  with  the  full  realization  of  the  old  Homeric  thought,  'the  dream  is  from  God.' 
We  forget,  who  have  fallen  into  the  easy  heritage  of  religious  truths  accepted,  of 
ecclesiastical  privileges  assured,  of  the  glory  of  Catholic  theology  acknowledged,  and 
of  Catholic  worship  adopted,  we  forget  the  farsight  and  foresight,  the  clearness  of 
wisdom  and  the  courage  of  utterance,  which  belonged  to  the  leaders  of  fifty  years  ago. 
A  thousand  familiar  and  undisputed  things  to-day  were  not  only  disputed  but  denied 
then  ;  and  in  that  line  of  men,  of  whom  Seabury  and  Hobart  were  the  first,  and  my 
father  and  Bishop  Whittingham  their  successors  in  the  older  generation,  Bishop  Wil- 
liams and  Bishop  Coxe  were  easily  leaders  in  the  next.  Suspected,  discredited, 
counted  disloyal  to  the  Church,  denounced  as  Romans  in  disguise,  these  men  were  in 
the  advance  guard  ;  they  were  of  the  hope  that  seemed  at  times  forlorn.  They  were 
pioneers,  who  found  and  cleared  the  way  ;  and  we,  who  come  after  them  along  a 
smooth  and  open  path,  forget  the  risk  and  pain  and  labor  with  which  they  won  our 
liberties 

"  The  priest  who  wrote  '  Dreamland,'  the  priest  who  was  filled  with  the  beauty  of 
holiness  of  the  worship  and  reverence  due  to  God's  house  (into  whose  sanctuary  I 
believe  he  never  entered,  when  he  could  avoid  it,  without  taking  the  shoes  of  outdoor 
use  from  off  his  feet);  the  priest  who  helped  to  restore  the  disused  matins  and  even- 
song, who  was  among  the  first  to  recognize  the  Holy  Eucharist  as  the  chief  act  of 
worship,  to  be  used  at  least  on  every  Lord's  Day,  who  as  bishop  said  in  his  last  charge 
to  his  clergy  :  '  The  New  Testament  tells  us  clearly  to  hallow  the  Lord's  Day  by  the 
Lord's  Supper.  This  is  our  law  and  our  rubric,  and  to  this  reformation  I  call  you  all 
in  God's  name';  the  priest  who  was  by  nature  strict  in  the  observance  of  all  the 
niceties  and  proprieties  and  dignities  of  divine  service,  and  all  this  not  recently,  but 
fifty  years  ago,  was  a  man  whom  we  ought  to  honor  for  his  prophetic  power  of  insight 
and  utterance,  for  the  courage  of  his  maintained  positions  in  the  far  advance  of  the 
first  rank  to  which  the  host  has  since  come  up 

"He  not  only  rejoiced,  but  took  no  little  part  in  the  first  enlargement  of  our 
hymnology,  from  which,  with  most  positive  determination,  he  absolutely  excluded 
every  hymn  of  his  own.     I  am  quite  clear  that  the  last  committee  has  been  wiser  than 


212  History  of  St.  Pauls  Church. 

he  in  this  behalf,  in  that  we  have  given  to  the  Church  for  use  in  its  treasures  of  sacred 
song  many  hymns  of  his  composing.  One  of  them,  at  least,  '  Saviour,  Sprinkle 
Many  Nations,"  is  among  the  first  of  our  Christian  lyrics  and  among  the  most  stirring 
of  our  missionary  hymns.  One  turns  over  page  after  page  of  his  collection  of  Chris- 
tian ballads,  struck  by  the  true,  prophetic  insight  of  his  inspiration,  as  well  as  by  the 
sonorous  metre  and  rhythm  of  his  verse.  He  certainly  was  enriched  in  all  utterance, 
both  of  the  eloquence  which  means  outspeaking  and  the  brilliant  powers  of  an  orator, 

and  enriched  in  the  utterance  of  true  poetic  gifts 

"What  he  himself  described  in  his  dedication  to  Dr.  Hobart  of  the  'Christian 
Ballads'  as  '  The  glistening  dews  of  a  Christian  boyhood'  never  dried  upon  his  brow. 
The  freshness  of  his  spirit  was  perennial.  Within  an  hour  of  his  death  he  was  so 
absorbed  in  what  his  companion  called  '  an  illuminating  conversation  '  on  the  resurrec- 
tion of  the  dead  that  he  lost  all  sense  of  time  and  trains  and  of  the  needed  nourish- 
ment of  food.  And  to  the  very  end,  what  he  called  the  'glow  of  his  early  vow' 
rested  upon  him  like  a  halo  in  all  its  warmth  and  brightness."  .... 


September  u,  1896,  at  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  Messrs.  W.  H. 
Walker,  A.  Porter  Thompson  and  E.  H.  Hutchinson  were  elected  del- 
egates from  St.  Paul's  "  to  the  Special  Council  to  meet  in  this  city  on 
the  6th  day  of  October  next,  for  the  election  of  a  bishop  to  fill  the 
vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  Bishop  Coxe."  Messrs.  James  Swee- 
ney and  Hobart  Weed  were  also  "  elected  special  delegates  to  fill  any 
vacancy  that  might  be  caused  by  inability  of  any  of  the  delegates  to 
attend  the  council." 

At  the  Special  Council  of  the  Diocese  of  Western  New  York, 
summoned  by  the  Standing  Committee  for  the  election  of  a  bishop,  to 
fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  lamented  death  of  the  beloved  Chief 
Pastor,  Arthur  Cleveland  Coxe,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  convened  in  Trinity 
Church,  in  the  City  of  Buffalo,  on  Tuesday  and  Wednesday,  the  6th 
and  7th  days  of  October,  1896,  the  Right  Reverend  William  D. 
Walker,  D.  D  ,  LL.  D.,  Missionary  Bishop  of  North  Dakota,  was  chosen 
to  be  the  Diocesan. 

Bishop  Walker  had  been  for  many  years  a  missionary  bishop  in 
the  West,  where  he  carried  on  a  successful,  energetic  work.  He  was 
born  in  New  York  City,  June  29,  1839.     In   1859,  he  was  graduated 


THE     RIGHT     REVEREND     WILLIAM     DAVID     WALKER.    D.    D.,    LL.    D„    D.   C.   L. 

Third  Bishop  of  Western  New  York,  1896.     Consecrated  Missionary  Bishop  of  North 

Dakota,  1883  ;     became  Bishop  of  Western  New  York,  1896. 


Photograph,  copyright  by  Bliss  Brothers,  1807. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  213 

from  Columbia  College,  and  in  1862  from  the  General  Theological 
Seminary.  In  June,  1862,  he  was  admitted  to  deacon's  orders  in  the 
Church  of  the  Transfiguration,  New  York,  by  Bishop  Horatio  Potter, 
who,  the  next  year,  in  Calvary  Church,  New  York,  admitted  him  to 
the  priesthood.  He  was  a  priest  at  Calvary  Church  until  1883,  when 
the  House  of  Bishops  nominated  him  for  the  Missionary  Episcopate  of 
North  Dakota.  December  20,  1883,  he  was  consecrated  bishop  in 
Calvary  Church.  "  For  many  years  Bishop  Walker  has  served  as  one 
of  the  government  commissioners  to  whom  is  entrusted  the  charge  of 
the  Indians.  His  cathedral  car,  which  was  the  first  of  the  kind,  has 
attracted  much  attention.  The  car  is  fitted  up  like  a  chapel,  and  by 
means  of  this  car  Bishop  Walker  has  been  able  to  preach  in  hundreds 
of  small  places  which  would  otherwise  have  been  inaccessible."  .... 
In  1884  Bishop  Walker  received  his  degree  of  doctor  of  divinity  from 
Racine,  and  in  1894  from  the  University  of  Oxford,  England.  In  1886 
the  degree  of  LL.  D.  was  given  him  by  Griswold  College  and  in 
1894  Trinity  College,  Dublin,  conferred  upon  him  a  similar  degree. 
He  has  also  received  the  degree  of  D.  C.  L.  from  the  University  of 
King's  College,  Windsor,  Nova  Scotia. 

November  30,  1896,  the  meeting  for  the  annual  election  of  church- 
wardens and  vestrymen  for  the  parish  was  held  in  St.  Paul's  Church, 
being  Monday  in  the  week  beginning  with  the  First  Sunday  in 
Advent,  due  notice  of  such  meeting  having  been  given  as  provided 
by  law.  The  rector,  the  Rev.  Dr.  J.  A.  Regester,  presided.  The  fol- 
lowing persons  were  elected:  William  H.  Walker,  churchwarden  for 
one  year,  A.  Porter  Thompson,  churchwarden  for  two  years  ;  Ed- 
mund Hayes,  James  Sweeney  and  Hobart  Weed,  vestrymen  for  three 
years  ;  Albert  J.  Barnard,  Dr.  M.  D.  Mann  and  Charles  R.  Wilson, 
vestrymen  for  two  years  ;  James  R.  Smith,  Sheldon  T.  Viele  and  John 
Pease,  vestrymen  for  one  year.     (First  election  under  the  new  rule.) 

December  11,  1896,  at  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  Charles  R.  Wilson 
was  elected  clerk  of  the  vestry  and  William  A.  Joyce  treasurer  of  the 
parish,  for  the  ensuing  year. 


214  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

The  thanks  of  the  vestry  were  extended  to  Philip  Joyce  for  the  val- 
uable aid  and  assistance  rendered  by  him  to  the  treasurer  of  the 
parish  in  the  preparation  of  his  annual  report. 

The  rector  called  attention  to  the  formal  action  of  the  vestry,  taken 
-March  27,  1866,  inviting  the  late  Bishop  Coxe  to  make  St.  Paul's 
church  the  cathedral  of  the  diocese,  and  the  bishop's  acceptance  of 
the  invitation  ;  and  that  a  committee  had  been  appointed  on  April  25, 
1866,  to  formulate  the  proposed  plan  of  making  St.  Paul's  Church 
at  the  same  time  a  parish  church  and  the  cathedral  church  of  the  dio- 
cese. This  committee  never  having  reported,  it  was  thought  that 
Bishop  Walker  might  wish  some  further  action  in  the  matter.  A 
committee  was,  therefore,  appointed  at  this  meeting  of  December  11, 
1896,  consisting  of  the  rector  and  the  two  wardens,  to  confer  with 
Bishop  Walker  on  the  subject,  if  he  should  so  desire. 

On  Sunday,  December  20,  1896,  Bishop  Walker  preached  his  first 
sermon  as  Bishop  of  Western  New  York,  in  St.  Paul's  Church,  Buffalo. 
Just  before  the  sermon,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Regester,  the  rector,  announced  the 
Enthronization  of  Bishop  Walker,  to  take  place  in  St.  Paul's  Church  on 
Wednesday  morning  ;  then,  turning  to  the  people,  Dr.  Regester  said  : 
"The  congregation  will  rise  and  join  with  me  in  a  welcome  to  our 
bishop."  The  great  congregation  arose,  Bishop  Walker  also  arose, 
and  Dr.  Regester,  in  a  few  well-chosen  words,  welcomed  him  to  the 
Cathedral  church. 

On  Wednesday  morning,  December  23,  1896,  a  large  congregation 
filled  St.  Paul's  to  take  part  in  the  ceremony  of  the  Enthronization  of 
Bishop  Walker  as  Bishop  of  Western  New  York.  Almost  every  clergy- 
man of  the  diocese  was  present  at  the  impressive  service,  which  is  of 
English  origin,  and  was  the  first  of  the  kind  ever  held  in  Buffalo. 

The  procession  entered  the  church  in  the  following  order  :  The 
vested  choirs  of  St.  Paul's  and  Ascension  churches,  singing  the  hymn, 
"The  Church's  One  Foundation";  they  were  followed  by  the  Lay 
Officers  of  the  Diocese  and  the  Lay  Members  of  the  Standing  Com- 
mittee ;  the   Master  of  Ceremonies,  the  Clergy  of    the   Diocese,  the 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  2 1  5 

Arch-Deacons,  the  Registrar,  the  Secretaries,  Clerical  Members  of  the 
Standing  Committee,  the  Bishop's  Chaplains,  one  of  whom  carried  the 
pastoral  staff,  and  lastly  the  Bishop. 

On  reaching  the  chancel,  the  Testimonial  of  Election  and  con- 
formity to  the  Canonical  requirements,  prepared  by  the  chancellor,  the 
Hon.  James  M.  Smith,  was  read  by  the  Hon.  John  E.  Pound  of  Lock- 
port.  Judge  Smith  was  prevented  by  illness  from  being  present. 
Then  the  bishop,  kneeling,  with  a  chaplain  on  either  side,  commended 
himself  to  God  in  prayer.  The  officiant,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Walter  North, 
then  led  the  congregation  in  a  special  prayer  for  the  bishop,  after 
which  the  officiant  conducted  the  new  diocesan  to  the  Episcopal  Chair, 
and  said  : 

"  In  the  Name  of  God,  Amen  :  I,  Walter  North,  do,  by  the  authority  committed 
to  me  for  that  purpose,  install  and  enthrone  you,  Rt.  Rev.  Father,  into  the  Episcopal 
Chair  of  this  diocese.  The  Lord  preserve  thy  coming  in  and  thy  going  out  from  this 
time  forth,  forevermore." 

The  Te  Deum  was  then  sung,  followed  by  special  versicles  and  a 
prayer  for  the  bishop.  The  address  of  welcome  was  then  delivered 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Henry  Anstice  of  Rochester,  during  which  the  bishop 
stood  in  the  front  of  the  chancel  with  a  chaplain  on  either  side. 

Dr.  Anstice  said,  in  part : 

"  Rt.  Rev.  Father  in  God  :  On  this  auspicious  occasion,  in  behalf  of  the  clergy 
and  laity  of  Western  New  York,  I  am  commissioned  to  express  to  you,  in  your  now 
officially  and  fully  recognized  position  as  our  Diocesan,  our  most  cordial,  deep-felt 
welcome. 

"You  do  not  come  among  us  as  a  stranger.  Some  of  us  have  long  known  and 
esteemed  you  in  your  earlier  spheres  of  work.  But  in  the  recent  years,  you  have 
especially  endeared  yourself  to  us  by  the  kindly,  sympathetic  and  unselfish  readiness 
with  which  you  helped  our  bishop  when  he  turned  to  you  for  aid 

"We  realize  the  great  importance  of  the  field  presented  in  this  portion  of  the 
Empire  State  —  the  largeness  of  the  place  filled  by  the  wise  and  venerated  De  Lancey, 
the  scholarly  and  courtly  Coxe.  We  recognize  the  difficulties  which  attend  some 
problems  now  pressing  to  be  met  and  solved. 

"  So  thus  we  bid  you  welcome,  here  and  now,  an  earnest,  cordial,  loyal,  enthusias- 
tic welcome  to  our  churches,  to  our  homes  and  to  our  hearts."  .... 


216  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

At  the  close  of  the  address,  Bishop  Walker  entered  the  pulpit  and 
made  an  eloquent  and  earnest  response,  in  the  course  of  which  he 
said  : 

"  When  a  bishop  of  a  diocese  is  chosen  from  among  the  ranks  of  the  priesthood, 
his  induction  to  office  begins  at  the  time  when  the  hands  of  the  consecrating  bishop 
are  laid  upon  his  head  ;  but  when  a  missionary  bishop  is  called  to  be  diocesan  of  a 
specific  charge,  the  time  of  his  induction  begins  when  he  formally  accepts  the  sacred 
duties. 

"  But  it  seemed  only  fitting  that  such  a  great,  such  an  awful  responsibility  as  that 
of  being  put  in  charge  of  this  diocese  should  be  emphasized  with  some  public  ceremo- 
nial, hence  this  beautiful  service  of  enthronization  to-day."  .... 

Bishop  Walker  spoke  most  feelingly  of  his  predecessor  in  office, 
the  revered  Bishop  Coxe,  and  of  his  great  and  successful  work  for  the 
Church  and  the  diocese  : 

"  How  can  I  speak  of  the  duties  of  this  sacred  office  without  referring  to  the  work 
of  him  who  for  almost  a  third  of  a  century  worked  among  you  as  bishop,  scholar, 
poet,  saint  ?".... 

In  closing,  Bishop  Walker  said  : 

"Humbly  would  I  serve  Him,  our  King.  Humbly  would  I  plead  with  you  to 
work  for  His  kingdom  in  this  great,  important  diocese  of  this  great  land."  .... 

After  the  conclusion  of  the  address,  the  bishop  was  celebrant  at  the 
Holy  Communion,  and  the  services  closed  with  the  recessional  hymn  : 

"  Glorious  things  of  thee  are  spoken, 
Zion,  City  of  our  God." 

Through  the  generosity  of  certain  parishioners,  the  rector  was 
enabled  to  have  the  services  of  a  parish  visitor,  Mrs.  Carrie  Jones. 
Investigation  of  need,  prompt  giving  of  relief,  visitation  of  strangers, 
the  care  of  women  and  young  girls,  the  bringing  of  children  to  Holy 
Baptism  and  to  Sunday  School,  have  all  been  made  easier  and  the 
rector  relieved  and  aided. 

Of  especial  interest  in  the  history  of  this  year  is  the  building  of 
the  new  Parish  House.     The  lot  on  Pearl  Street,  opposite  the  church, 


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History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  217 

was  purchased  by  the  vestry  in  the  year  1844,  and  a  brick  rectory 
was  finished  there  in  1847,  in  which  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Shelton  lived  for  the 
remainder  of  their  lives.  Here  the  most  of  the  social  life  of  the  parish 
centered,  the  many  reunions  and  informal  evening  receptions  given 
by  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Shelton  serving  to  make  the  people  like  a  large  fam- 
ily.    Everyone  was  welcome  and  made  to  feel  at  home. 

After  Dr.  Shelton's  death,  the  old  rectory  was  used  as  a  Guild 
House,  and  later,  following  the  fire  of  1888,  it  was  called  the  Parish 
House,  and  was  used  for  the  meetings  of  the  different  societies,  and  for 
the  general  secular  work  of  St.  Paul's.  It  was  found  more  and  more 
inadequate  as  the  parish  grew  and  the  work  increased. 

Nearly  all  took  part  in  the  accomplishment  of  the  plan  for  a  new 
Parish  House,  but  especial  acknowledgment  must  be  given  to  the 
faithful  work  of  the  women  of  the  church,  who,  led  by  Mrs.  Sheldon 
T.  Viele,  suggested  and  carried  the  project  through  to  success.  The 
plans  were  made  by  Messrs.  Green  &  Wicks,  the  needs  of  the  several 
departments  of  work,  together  with  the  narrowness  of  the  lot,  twenty- 
seven  and  three-quarters  feet  front  by  one  hundred  and  sixteen  feet 
deep,  necessitating  much  careful  planning,  and  the  result  has  been 
satisfactory.  The  front  of  the  four-story  building  is  of  brick  with 
trimmings  of  the  same  brown  stone  as  that  used  in  the  church,  and 
is  Gothic  in  style.  It  is  105  feet  in  depth  and  covers  the  entire  lot, 
with  the  exception  of  a  small  area  in  the  rear.  Over  $20,000  was 
raised  by  the  parish  for  this  work.  The  list  of  subscribers  to  the 
Parish  House  Building  Fund  will  be  found  at  page  434.  The  cost  of 
the  building,  which  is  of  modern,  fire-proof  construction  throughout, 
was  about  $27,000. 

1897. 

January  10,  1897,  died  Edward  C.  Walker,  who  had  nearly  all  of 
his  life  been  closely  identified  with  St.  Paul's.  He  was  long  a  mem- 
ber of  the  music  committee,  and,  with  Hobart  Weed,  had  charge  of 


2i8  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

the  musical  affairs  of  the  church,  and  to  those  affairs  he  gave  freely 
and  unselfishly  of  his  time,  his  enthusiasm,  and  his  cultured  knowledge 
of  music.  He  had  a  fine  and  sympathetic  voice,  and  his  beautiful 
singing  in  the  old  choir  will  be  long  remembered.  Mr.  Walker  was  a 
man  of  sterling  character,  a  kinsman  and  business  partner  of  William 
H.  Walker,  the  senior  warden  of  the  parish. 

January  18,  1897,  at  a  service  held  by  the  Brotherhood  of  St. 
Andrew  in  "  The  Chapel  "  at  St.  Paul's,  an  address  was  made  by 
George  Alfred  Stringer  on  "  Incidents  Illustrating  the  Personality, 
Mind  and  Religion  of  the  late  Bishop  Coxe."  This  interesting  paper 
was  published  in  full  in  the  "  Sundav  Express"  of  January  24, 
1897. 

The  new  Parish  House  was  formally  opened  for  use  February  25, 
1897,  an  occasion  of  especial  interest  to  the  whole  parish,  and  there 
was  a  large  attendance.  The  building  committee,  composed  of 
Messrs.  Edmund  Hayes,  H.  C.  Harrower,  Charles  R.  Wilson,  W.  H. 
Walker  and  the  rector,  "  presented  a  financial  report  which  showed 
how  nobly  the  parish  had  put  out  its  strength  to  obtain  the  house, 
while  the  address  of  the  senior  warden,  William  H.  Walker,  very 
fittingly  expressed  the  benevolent  spirit  of  that  effort  and  told  of  the 
good  work  for  others  of  which  it  was  intended  that  the  Parish  House 
should  be  the  center." 

Mrs.  Carrie  Jones,  the  devoted  parish  visitor,  was  obliged  to  give 
up  her  work  on  account  of  failing  health.  The  rector  then  secured  the 
services  of  Sister  Magdalene,  of  the  Sisters  of  Bethany,  New  Orleans. 

In  March,  1897,  was  held  the  first  of  the  noonday  Lenten  services, 
which  were  very  largely  attended,  especially  by  business  men.  These 
services,  lasting  twenty  minutes,  consisted  of  prayers,  hymns,  and  a 
short  address,  and  were  conducted  daily  throughout  Lent  by  clergymen 
from  the  different  churches  of  the  city.  While  an  innovation  in  Buffalo, 
they  have  proved  very  successful  in  the  down-town  churches  of  other 
cities.  These  services  at  St.  Paul's  are  largely  attended  and  appreci- 
ated, the  congregations  not  by  any  means  being  limited  to  churchmen. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  219 

March  29,  1897,  at  West  Chester,  Pa.,  died  Miss  Mary  W.  Hills. 
Miss  Hills  and  her  sisters  were  members  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  and,  as 
the  proprietors  and  teachers  of  the  only  Church  school  for  girls  in 
Buffalo,  in  former  days,  they  are  held  in  loving  remembrance  by  a 
large  number  of  the  churchwomen  of  St.  Paul's  Parish.  The  follow- 
ing is  from  "  The  Churchman  "  of  April  10,  1897  : 

"  The  passing  to  Paradise  of  Mary  Wilcox  Hills  closes  the  earthly  record  of  the  last 
of  the  three  sisters  whose  life  work  brought  benediction  to  the  City  of  Buffalo.  The 
Misses  Hills  School  for  Girls  was  established  in  that  city  in  1847,  by  the  daughters  of 
Horace  Hills  of  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  and  until  1884,  a  period  of  thirty-seven  years,  it  alone 
filled  a  place  since  held  by  St.  Margaret's  School.  Emily,  who  had  been  married  to 
Ebenezer  Hale,  of  Canadaigua,  in  1862,  entered  into  rest  in  1873,  and  Clarissa  was  called 
hence  at  Christmas-tide,  18S3.  In  the  following  spring  the  school  was  closed,  and  Mary 
Wilcox  Hills,  advanced  in  years,  and  always  of  delicate  physical  health,  laid  down 
her  work  to  make  her  home  with  her  brother,  the  late  Rev.  George  Morgan 
Hills,  D.   D 

"Of  rare  intellectual  ability  and  culture,  a  churchwoman  by  conviction  and  a 
saint  in  daily  living,  Mary  Wilcox  Hills  now  waits  for  the  consummation  of  the 
Resurrection  Day,  leaving  here  the  lasting  blessing  of  a  life  of  goodly  and  godly 
labors." 

April  29,  1897,  the  vestry  resolved  to  place  a  mortgage  of  $15,000 
on  the  Parish  House  property,  for  the  purpose  of  paying  off  the  exist- 
ing mortgage  of  $8,000  on  the  premises,  and  advancing  the  further 
sum  of  $7,000  for  the  completion  of  the  new  building.  This  mort- 
gage was  given  to  the  Erie  County  Savings  Bank,  with  interest  at  4^4 
per  centum  per  annum. 

At  the  same  meeting,  Messrs.  Walker,  Hopkins,  Hutchinson, 
Thompson  and  Sweeney  were  elected  delegates  to  the  Annual  Diocesan 
Council  to  be  held  at  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  in  May,  1897. 

August  16,  1897,  the  Board  of  Aldermen  of  the  City  of  Buffalo 
adopted  the  following  resolution  : 

"  That  the  junction  of  Main,  Erie,  Church  and  Niagara  streets  be  known  as  Shel- 
ton  Square  (In  kindly  remembrance  of  an  eminent  Buffalonian,  as  a  requisite 
designation  of  a  very  prominent  point  in  the  city.)" 


220  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

This  was  concurred  in  by  the  Board  of  Councilmen  on  August 
1 8th  and  approved  by  Mayor  Edgar  B.  Jewett. 

The  city  authorities  honored  themselves  in  taking  this  graceful  and 
appropriate  action.  Shelton  Square  was  formed  in  the  following  way  : 
Shortly  after  the  completion,  in  1893,  of  the  new  building  of  the  Erie 
County  Savings  Bank,  on  the  site  of  the  old  First  Presbyterian  Church, 
the  land  lying  between  that  lot  and  Main  Street,  and  between  St.  Paul's 
lot  and  Main  Street,  was  asphalted  by  the  city  authorities,  and  was 
formed,  in  connection  with  the  head  of  Church  Street,  into  a  short  street 
or  "square,"  immediately  west  of  and  parallel  with  Main  Street.  The 
junction  of  Church  Street  and  Main  Street  was  closed  with  stone  posts, 
and  the  traffic  diverted  to  the  north  and  south  through  this  new  street. 
(See  page  261,  and  photograph  opposite  page  440.) 

Shelton  Square  is  also  of  interest  because  it  marks  the  location 
where,  in  early  days,  Main  Street  was  curved  to  fit  the  semi-circular  pro- 
jection at  the  middle  of  the  front  of  Joseph  Ellicott's  100-acre  domain, 
sometimes  referred  to  as  "  Ellicott's  Bow-window."     (Pages  16,  174  ) 

Church  Street  was  then  Stadnitski  Avenue  ;  Main  Street,  south  of 
Church  Street,  was  called  Willink  Avenue,  and,  north  of  it,  Van  Stap- 
horst  Avenue.  The  original  easterly  line  of  St.  Paul's  lot  was  directly 
on  the  outer  curve  of  Willink  Avenue,  and  is  so  described  in  the  deed 
dated  June  14,  1820,  recorded  in  Erie  County  Clerk's  office,  in  Liber  6 
of  Deeds,  at  page  255  (formerly  at  page  247).  (See  pages  16  and  19, 
this  volume.)  The  lot  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  on  the  opposite 
side  of  Church  Street,  was  exactly  like  St.  Paul's  lot  in  description,  except 
that  it  was  reversed  from  north  to  south.  It  fronted,  according  to  the 
deed,  dated  December  12,  1820,  on  the  curve  of  Van  Staphorst  Avenue. 
(This  deed  is  recorded  in  Liber  6  of  Deeds,  at  page  4 13,  formerly  page  390.) 

Pearl  Street  was  divided  by  Church  Street  into  North  and  South 
Cayuga  streets  at  this  time.  Niagara  Street  was  Schimmelpenninck 
Avenue. 

The  point  of  division  of  Main  Street  into  Van  Staphorst  Avenue 
on  the  north,  and  Willink  Avenue  on  the  south,  is  sometimes  stated  to 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  221 

have  been  Erie  Street,  then  called  Vollenhoven  Avenue,  and  this  error 
appears  in  the  official  "  Index  of  Streets  and  Public  Grounds,"  printed 
by  the  Bureau  of  Engineering  of  the  City  of  Buffalo,  1896.  The  old 
church  deeds  above  referred  to,  as  well  as  the  map  of  the  survey  by 
the  Commissioners  of  Highways,  August  18,  182 1,  in  the  village 
records,  show  that  Church  Street  (Stadnitski  Avenue)  was  the  point  of 
division.  The  attention  of  the  Engineer's  office  has  been  called  to  the 
error  in  the  "  Index,"  and  it  has  been  corrected  on  the  official  copy. 

In  1809,  the  Highway  Commissioners  decided  to  straighten  Main 
Street,  and  "  Ellicott's  Bow-window  "  was  done  away  with,  by  running 
the  east  line  of  Main  Street  through  it.  August  18,  182 1,  the  Com- 
missioners fixed  the  width  of  Main  Street  at  ninety-nine  feet  —  as  at 
present.  The  semi-circular  curve  of  the  westerly  line  of  the  street 
(in  front  of  "the  churches"),  however,  is  still  shown  in  Ball's  map  of 
Buffalo  in  1825,  but  was  soon  after  obliterated. 

By  vote  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Village  of  Buffalo,  on 
July  13,  1826,  the  old  Dutch  names  of  the  streets  were  dropped,  and 
the  present  names  adopted  ;  and  at  this  time,  also,  North  and  South 
Cayuga  streets  became  Pearl  Street. 

(See  the  map  of  Buffalo  Village  in  this  volume,  also  reproduction 
of  Ball's  map  of  Buffalo,  in  "  Publications  of  Buffalo  Historical 
Society,"  volume  I.) 

October  28,  1897,  the  vestry  passed  resolutions  of  thanks  to  Mrs. 
Geo.  E.  Hayes,  for  her  gift  of  $1,000  to  the  Endowment  Fund,  to  be 
known  as  the  "George  E.  Hayes  Memorial  Gift." 

In  October,  1S97,  the  International  Convention  of  the  Brotherhood 
of  St.  Andrew  was  held-  in  Buffalo.  A  very  impressive  early  morning 
celebration  of  the  Holy  Communion  was  held  in  St.  Paul's  Church,  at 
which  1,400  men  communicated,  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Rochester,  Eng- 
land, being  the  celebrant,  with  eight  assistants. 

October  19,  1897,  Mrs.  Jane  Wey  Grosvenor,  widow  of  Seth  H. 
Grosvenor,  died,  aged  79  years.  Mrs.  Grosvenor  and  her  family  have 
been  long  and  prominently  associated  with  St.  Paul's  Parish.     She  was 


222  History  of  St.  PauVs  Church. 

a  niece  of  the  late  Mrs.  Shekon,  with  whom  she  came  to  live  in  Buffalo 
when  she  was  nine  years  of  age.  For  many  years  of  her  married  life 
she  lived  with  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Shelton  in  the  old  rectory,  on  which  site 
the  new  Parish  House  of  St.  Paul's  stands. 

Mr.  Grosvenor  died  in  1864. 

"The  beauty  and  lovableness  of  her  character  were  extraordinary. 
Her  death   removes   one   of  Buffalo's   best-known    and   best-beloved 

women Possessing  high   intelligence,  a  great  reader,  of  rare 

cultivation  of  mind  and  character,  she  was  a  power  in  this  community 
for  the  many  years  of  her  useful,  honored  life."  .... 

Mrs.  Grosvenor's  death  was  followed  only  a  few  months  after,  on 
January  10,  1898,  by  that  of  her  eldest  daughter,  Mrs.  Jane  Glenny,  the 
wife  of  William  H.  Glenny.  Mrs.  Glenny  was  born  in  the  old  rectory, 
and  was,  all  of  her  life,  intimately  associated  with  the  life  and  chari- 
table work  of  St.  Paul's  Parish. 

October  28,  1897,  at  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  William  H.  Walker 
offered  the  following  memorial  on  the  death  of  Mrs.  Seth  H.  Grosvenor, 
which  was  adopted  and  ordered  entered  on  the  minutes  : 

"Whereas,  The  vestry  has  received  the  intelligence  of  the  death  of  Mrs.  Seth 
H.  Grosvenor,  we  wish  to  place  on  our  records  our  sense  of  the  great  loss  that  has 
come  to  St.  Paul's  Parish,  as  well  as  to  the  community  at  large.  Nearly  the  whole  of 
Mrs.  Grosvenor's  life  was  passed  in  the  closest  connection  with  this  parish.  For 
many  years  she  was  an  honored  and  beloved  member  of  the  family  at  the  rectory,  and 
she,  as  well  as  her  children,  held  a  very  high  place  in  the  affection  and  regard  of  Wil- 
liam Shelton,  D.  D.,  then  the  eminent  rector  of  St.  Paul's.  When  the  family  left  the 
rectory  for  their  new  home  her  interest  in  the  parish  continued,  and  during  all  her  life 
she  was  one  of  its  most  loyal  and  liberal  supporters.  She  possessed  a  rare  combina- 
tion of  noble  qualities,  which  will  always  be  remembered  by  those  who  knew  her.  St. 
Paul's  Parish  has  many  precious  and  inspiring  memories  connected  with  its  past  his- 
tory, but  none  of  these  will  be  more  precious,  or  more  inspiring,  than  those  associated 
with  the  name  of  Mrs.  Seth  H.  Grosvenor." 

November  29,  1897,  in  St.  Paul's  Church,  being  Monday  in  the 
week  beginning  with  the  First  Sunday  in  Advent,  was  held  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  parish,  for  the  election  of  a  churchwarden  and  three 


History  of  St.  Paul 's  Church.  223 

vestrymen.  The  rector  presided,  and  the  following  persons  were 
elected  :  William  H.  Walker,  churchwarden  for  two  years  ;  James 
R.  Smith,  Sheldon  T.  Yiele  and  John  Pease,  vestrymen  for  three 
years.  The  other  members  of  the  vestry,  holding  over  from  previous 
election,  were  :  A.  Porter  Thompson,  churchwarden  ;  and  Albert  J. 
Barnard,  Edmund  Hayes,  James  Sweeney,  Hobart  Weed,  Charles  R. 
Wilson  and  Dr.  Matthew  D.  Mann,  vestrymen. 

December  20,  1897,  Charles  R.  Wilson  was  elected  clerk  of  the 
vestry  and  Wm.  A.  Joyce  was  elected  treasurer  of  the  parish,  for  the 
ensuing  year. 

At  this  meeting  the  vestry  passed  a  resolution  of  thanks  to  Miss 
Susan  Kimberly  for  her  gift  of  $1,000  to  the  Endowment  Fund,  in 
memory  of  her  sister,  the  late  Miss  Charlotte  Kimberly. 

The  "Year  Book"  for  1897  opens  with  an  answer  from  the  rector 
to  certain  questions  about  the  work  of  the  parish.  "  It  has  been  asked 
a  number  of  times  why  St.  Paul's  Church  does  not  have  a  '  settlement ' 
for  work  among  the  less  privileged  of  the  community.  The  reply 
has  always  been  that  it  has  one,  and  has  had  it  for  a  number  of  years, 
....  all  those  various  forms  of  benevolent  effort  which  have  a 
place  in  '  settlement '  work  have  been  in  the  past,  and  are  now,  ener- 
getically and  efficiently  worked  from  our  Parish  House.  The  pecu- 
liarity and  the  advantage  of  such  work  in  our  parish  is  that  St.  Paul's 
Church,  the  center  of  worship  and  of  its  spiritual  life,  stands  in  close 
connection  with  our  Parish  House,  the  center  of  our  benevolent  work, 
and  not  separated  from  it.  The  parish  is,  in  other  words,  doing  its 
benevolent  —  its  '  settlement '  —  work,  not  at  arm's  length,  but  near  to 
its  own  heart,  and  with  close  and  proper  association  between  its  benev- 
olent activity  and  the  spiritual  forces  which  inspire  it  and  give  it 
strength,  and  which  alone  can  crown  it  with  its  best  results." 

The  rector  has  for  many  years  past  urged  the  necessity  of  an  en- 
dowment fund  for  the  church.  St.  Paul's  Church  ought  always,  for 
many  reasons,  to  stay  where  it  is  ;  there  is  a  splendid  work  for  it  to 
do,  but  for  that  work  a  full  and  sufficient  endowment  is  a  necessity, 


224  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

and  that  necessity  will  be  greater  and  greater  as  the  years  go  on,  and 
the  city  grows.  It  was  one  of  the  dearest  wishes  of  the  late  Dr.  Shel- 
ton  that  the  church  should  have  a  constantly-growing  endowment 
fund,  which  he  hoped  would  one  day  be  a  goodly  and  sufficient  amount 
to  carry  on  successfully  into  the  future  the  work  of  his  beloved  parish. 
The  Shelton  Society,  in  addition  to  much  other  work,  notably  their 
help  towards  furnishing  the  new  Parish  House,  have  also  renovated 
the  altar  and  chancel  in  the  Sunday  School  room,  and  supplied  Com- 
munion silver  for  the  service  for  deaf  mutes,  which  is  now  held  there. 
"  When  the  missionary  in  charge  of  the  deaf  mutes  in  Buffalo  requested 
that  he  might  make  St.  Paul's  the  center  for  his  work,  and  might  have 
the  Sunday  School  room  for  his  services,  the  rector  had  neither  chalice 
nor  paten  for  the  Holy  Communion,  as  all  belonging  to  the  parish  were 
in  use  in  the  service  in  the  church,  which  came  at  the  same  hour.  Hear- 
ing of  the  need,  the  Shelton  Society  relieved  it  by  the  gift  of  a  silver 
communion  service  for  that  special  use." 


1898. 

April  2,  1898,  the  vestry  passed  a  resolution  of  thanks  to  the  Misses 
Abby  W.  Grosvenor  and  Lucretia  S.  Grosvenor,  for  their  gift  of  $1,000 
to  the  Endowment  Fund,  in  memory  of  their  mother,  Mrs.  Jane  Wey 
Grosvenor. 

May  16,  1898,  the  vestry  appointed  the  following  persons  as  dele- 
gates to  the  Annual  Council  to  be  held  at  Trinity  Church,  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.,  May  23,  1898  : 

Delegates  —  William  H.  Walker,  Henry  R.  Hopkins,  E.  H.  Hutch- 
inson. 

Alternates —  A.  Porter  Thompson,  James  Sweeney. 

The  Shelton  Memorial  Endowment  Fund  was  this  year  augmented  by 
the  thoughtfulness  of  a  former  parishioner,  the  late  Miss  Elizabeth  Bull, 
who  arranged  that  at  her  death  the  church,  where  her  family  have  wor- 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  225 

shipped  for  so  many  years,  should  receive  a  bequest  of  $500,  to  be 
added  to  its  endowment.  On  August  12,  1898,  the  vestry  passed  a 
vote  of  thanks  to  her  family  and  executor  for  the  payment  of  the 
legacy  of  $475,  being  the  amount  bequeathed,  less  the  inheritance  tax. 

Another  addition  to  the  Endowment,  of  $346.75,  was  made  by  the 
sale  of  the  Shelton  china,  in  January,  1898.  This  china  was  pre- 
sented to  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Shelton  by  the  parishioners,  at  Christmas, 
1867,  more  than  thirty  years  before,  and  was  much  prized  by  them. 
In  Dr.  Shelton's  will  the  china  was  bequeathed  to  St.  Paul's,  and  was 
carefully  kept,  being  used  occasionally  at  parish  gatherings.  Since  the 
completion  of  the  new  Parish  House,  which  is  in  reality  now  largely  a 
mission  house,  the  china  has  not  been  needed  for  use,  and  it  was 
accordingly  decided  to  place  it  on  sale,  the  pieces  to  be  sold  sepa- 
rately. The  people  gladly  availed  themselves  of  the  opportunity  for 
buying  one  or  more  pieces,  as  mementoes  of  old  St.  Paul's,  and  in 
remembrance  of  Dr.  Shelton. 

August  12,  1898,  Mr.  Walker,  for  the  finance  committee,  reported 
to  the  vestry  that  since  the  last  meeting  of  the  vestry,  Miss  Elizabeth 
A.  McKee,  an  old  parishioner  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  had  died,  and  that 
by  her  death  her  house  and  lot,  No.  98  Fifteenth  Street,  had  come  into 
the  possession  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  Miss  McKee  died  July  23,  1898. 
She  had  purchased  this  property  January  9,  1886,  for  $3,850.  She 
later  notified  the  vestry  of  her  wish  to  give  it  to  St.  Paul's,  and  on 
May  23,  1889,  she  executed  a  deed  to  the  corporation,  reserving  only 
the  use  of  the  property  during  her  lifetime,  and  agreeing  to  pay  all 
taxes  and  maintenance  herself. 

Miss  McKee  will  long  be  remembered  by  the  older  members  of  St. 
Paul's.  She  had  lived  with  Mrs.  Shelton  before  her  marriage  to  Dr. 
Shelton,  and  afterwards  made  her  home  with  them  in  the  rectory  until 
after  Mrs.  Shelton's  death,  her  valued  helper,  housekeeper  and  com- 
panion for  more  than  thirty  years.  Dr.  Shelton  bequeathed  the  sum 
of  $7,000  to  Miss  McKee,  and  in  his  will  spoke  of  her  in  terms  of 
regard  and  respect.     (See  page  149.) 


226  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

November  i,  1898,  the  vestry  resolved  that  the  finance  committee 
be  and  hereby  is  authorized  to  sell  the  house  No.  98  Fifteenth  Street 
on  the  best  terms  obtainable. 

November  28,  1898,  being  Monday  in  the  week  beginning  with  the 
First  Sunday  in  Advent,  was  held  the  annual  election  of  the  parish,  in 
St.  Paul's  Church,  for  the  election  of  a  churchwarden  for  two  years 
and  three  vestrymen  for  three  years.  The  rector  presided,  and  the 
following  persons  were  elected  :  A.  Porter  Thompson,  warden  for 
two  years  ;  Albert  J.  Barnard,  Charles  R.  Wilson  and  Matthew  D. 
Mann,  vestrymen  for  three  years. 

The  other  members  of  the  vestry  for  this  year,  holding  over  from 
previous  elections,  were  :  William  H.  Walker,  churchwarden  ;  and 
John  Pease,  James  R.  Smith,  Edmund  Hayes,  James  Sweeney, 
Sheldon  T.  Viele  and  Hobart  Weed,  vestrymen. 

December  12,  189S,  Charles  R.  Wilson  was  elected  clerk  of  the 
vestry  and  Wm.  A.  Joyce  was  elected  treasurer  of  the  parish,  for 
the  ensuing  year. 

In  1898,  Miss  Eva  M.  Smiley  became  the  parish  visitor. 

1899. 

May  8,  1899,  the  vestry  elected  the  following  persons  as  delegates 
to  the  Annual  Council  of  the  Diocese  of  Western  New  York  to  be 
held  at  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  May  16,  1899  : 

Delegates — Wm.  H.  Walker,  James  Sweeney,  Henry  R.  Hopkins. 

Alternates — Charles  R.  Wilson,  Mark  H.  Lewis  and  Marshall  J.  Root. 

In  November,  1899,  the  Rev.  John  S.  Littell,  who  had  been  Dr. 
Regester's  valued  curate  for  the  past  four  years,  left  St.  Paul's  to 
become  rector  of  St.  Luke's  Church,  Brockport,  N.  Y.  At  the  vestry 
meeting  of  November  13,  1899,  a  letter  expressing  the  vestry's  appre- 
ciation of  his  services  was  ordered  sent  to  him.  In  Mr.  Littell's  letter 
of  reply,  and  which  was  entered  in  full  on  the  minutes  of  the  vestry,  is 
a  characterization  of  the  rector  so  true  to  life  that  it  must  be  inserted 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  227 

here.  Mr.  Littell  says  :  "  My  four  years  and  more  in  residence  in  the 
parish  has  shown  me  much  that  is  strong  and  large  and  noble  among 
your  people  ;  but  my  chief  treasure  taken  from  your  parish  is  a  great 
inspiration  from  the  life  and  work  of  your  rector,  in  his  manliness,  gen- 
tleness and  Christian  spirit,  in  the  clearness  of  his  Christian  thinking, 
and  in  his  loyal  doing  of  his  duty  as  a  priest  for  our  Blessed  Lord. 
Rarely  have  I  met  a  man  so  thorough  in  work,  so  capacious  in  sympa- 
thies, and  so  elevating  in  his  own  spiritual  life.  I  esteem  it  a  great 
privilege  to  have  been  associated  with  him."  .... 

The  rector  stated,  at  the  vestry  meeting  of  November  13,  1899, 
that  he  had  secured  the  services  of  the  Rev.  Coleman  E.  Byram  as 
curate.     Mr.  Byram  began  his  work  at  St.  Paul's  on  November  15th. 

On  November  24,  1899,  died  Mrs.  Sarah  E  Bryant,  widow  of 
George  H.  Bryant.  Mrs.  Bryant  had  long  been  a  parishioner  of 
St.  Paul's,  and  was  a  sister  of  Mr.  James  Sweeney,  of  the  vestry. 

November  27,  1899,  died  the  Hon.  James  Murdock  Smith,  LL.  D., 
Chancellor  of  the  Diocese  of  Western  New  York,  aged  eighty-three 
years.  Judge  Smith  was  born  in  Vermont,  August  23,  1S16.  In  1S24 
his  father  removed,  with  his  family,  to  Gouverneur,  N.  Y.,  and  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  in  1837,  as  an  attorney  in  the  supreme  court  and  so- 
licitor in  chancery.  In  1838,  James  M.  Smith  removed  to  Buffalo,  then  a 
very  small  city,  where  he  practiced  law  for  many  years.  In  1862  the  firm 
of  Ganson  &  Smith  was  formed,  which  held  a  high  position  and  was  very 
widely  known.  In  1S73,  Hon.  Isaac  A.  Yerplanck,  one  of  the  judges 
of  the  superior  court  of  Buffalo,  died  and  Mr.  Smith  was  appointed  by 
the  Governor  and  Senate  to  fill  the  vacancy,  and  in  1S74  he  was  ap- 
pointed his  own  successor  for  the  term  of  fourteen  years.  In  1873, 
Hobart  College  conferred  on  Judge  Smith  the  honorary  degree  of 
LL.  D.  Judge  Smith  on  first  coming  to  Buffalo  was  a  member  of  Trin- 
ity Church,  but  afterwards  was  prominently  identified  with  St.  Paul's 
to  the  time  of  his  death.  His  funeral,  which  was  held  in  St.  Paul's  on 
the  30th  November,  was  very  largely  attended.  His  wife  had  died  in 
1887,  and  he  was  survived  by  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Robert  P.  Wilson, 


228  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

and  his  son,  Philip  S.  Smith.  The  following  is  from  "Church 
Work  "  for  January  i,  1900  :  "  The  diocese  suffers  a  sore  loss  in  the 
recent  death  of  the  Hon.  James  M.  Smith,  LL.  D.  He  was  the  first 
chancellor  of  the  diocese,  receiving  the  appointment  from  Bishop 
Coxe  in  1874  and  holding  it  to  the  day  of  his  death.  His  attendance 
at  our  Diocesan  Council  goes  back  to  the  time  before  the  division  of  the 
diocese,  and  there  were  few  sessions  in  this  long  period  in  which  he 
was  not  an  active  participant.  He  also  was  a  frequent  deputy  to  the 
general  conventions.  Amidst  the  engrossing  duties  of  his  profession 
he  always  found  time,  or  made  time,  to  give  attention  to  the  calls  of 
the  Church  and  the  requirements  of  worthy  citizenship.  To  his  legal 
skill  we  owe  the  excellent  canon  recently  adopted  for  the  election  of 
wardens  and  vestrymen  ;  and  the  present  constitution  and  canons  of 
the  diocese  were  formulated  under  his  wise  and  discriminating  judg- 
ment. He  was  blessed  with  prosperity,  and  no  man  could  be  a  better 
almoner  of  God's  blessings  than  was  he.  No  worthy  charity  was  ever 
refused  his  aid,  and   his  beneficence  to  the  Church  was  constant  and 

continuing In  the  life  of  Chancellor  Smith  we  have  a  true  type 

of  a  loyal  churchman."  .... 

December  4,  1899,  being  Monday  in  the  week  beginning  with  the 
First  Sunday  in  Advent,  the  parish  meeting  for  the  election  of  a  church- 
warden and  three  vestrymen  was  held  in  the  church  building,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Regester,  the  rector,  presiding.  William  H.  Walker  was  elected 
churchwarden  for  two  years,  and  Edmund  Hayes,  Hobart  Weed  and 
James  Sweeney  were  elected  vestrymen  for  three  years. 

The  other  members  of  the  vestry  for  this  year,  holding  over  from 
previous  elections,  were  :  A.  Porter  Thompson,  churchwarden  ;  and 
John  Pease,  Albert  J.  Barnard,  James  R.  Smith,  Sheldon  T.  Yiele, 
Charles  R.  Wilson  and  Dr.  M.  D.  Mann. 

December  18,  1899,  died  Mrs.  Agnes  L.  Thompson  Warren,  widow 
of  Edward  S.  Warren,  at  the  family  home,  corner  of  Niagara  Street 
and  Porter  Avenue,  where  she  had  lived  for  more  than  forty  years. 
Mrs.  Warren  was  born  in  the  Village  of  Black  Rock,  now  a  part  of  the 


History  of  St.  Paul 's  Church.  229 

City  of  Buffalo,  in  January,  1819,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Sheldon 
Thompson,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Buffalo.  More  than  half  a 
century  ago  she  married  Edward  Stevens  Warren,  who  died  in  1863. 
She  was  a  life-long  member  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  of  which  her  father 
was  one  of  the  founders  and  one  of  the  first  vestrymen  ;  her  husband 
was  also  a  member  of  the  vestry  in  1850.  She  was  a  sister  of  A. 
Porter  Thompson,  one  of  the  present  wardens  of  the  parish,  and  of 
Mrs.  Henry  K.  Viele,  and  is  also  survived  by  two  sons,  William  Y. 
Warren  and  Edward  S.  Warren  of  Buffalo  ;  and  two  daughters,  Mrs. 
Rodney,  wife  of  Col.  George  B.  Rodney,  U.  S.  A.,  and  Mrs.  Has- 
brouck,  wife  of  Gen.  Henry  C.  Hasbrouck,  U.  S.  A.  The  Thomp- 
son, Warren  and  Viele  families  have  always  been  prominently 
identified  with  the  life  and  work  of  St.  Paul's. 

The  "  Year  Book,"  dated  Advent,  1899,  gives  a  full  and  clear  record 
of  the  extensive  work  of  the  parish.  In  the  Prefatory  Notes,  the  rec- 
tor says  :  "  Hours  of  service,  methods  of  work,  figures,  and  names  of 
workers,  do  not  tell  all  or  the  best,  by  any  means,  of  the  life  of  the 

parish,  but  they  tell  a  good  deal They  show  that  the  work  of 

the  parish  is  moving  with  steady  step  ;  that  the  end  in  view  is,  in  good 
measure,  being  reached  ;  and,  best  of  all,  that  that  end  is  an  unselfish 
one.  '  Not  to  be  ministered  unto,  but  to  minister.'  That,  your  rector 
believes,  is  plainly  written  on  the  work  of  the  parish,  as  it  is  —  as  he 

knows  —  the  spirit  which   animates  the  hearts  of  the  workers 

The  effort  to  reach  the  men  gathered  in  the  cheap  lodging  houses  in 
the  lower  part  of  the  city  has  been  strengthened.  Last  winter  service 
was  held  on  Sunday  night  in  one  lodging  house.  This  winter  access 
has  been  gained  to  another.  In  this  way  some  privilege  of  worship 
and  an  earnest,  direct  word  of  counsel  and  advice  are  brought  to  about 
a  hundred  men  each  Sunday  night.  It  is  not  easy  work,  with  all  else  that 
there  is  to  fill  the  hours  of  Sunday,  but  the  clergy  and  the  lay  readers,  and 
other  men  helping  them,  feel  that  it  is  work  well  worth  doing 

"  Great  and  sad  losses  have  come  to  the  parish  in  the  past  year 
through   the  death   of  valued   parishioners,   whose  love  and   helping 


230  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

hand  could  always  be  relied  upon  in  any  good  work.  But  the  influence 
of  their  example  has  not  died.  They  have  left  behind  them,  as  a  her- 
itage to  their  children,  the  spirit  of  earnest   love  and  loyalty  to  St. 

Paul's  Church Most  grateful   mention  must  be  made  of  two 

generous  bequests  to  the  parish,  of  $3,000  by  the  Hon.  James  M.  Smith, 
and  of  a  like  sum  by  Mrs.  Agnes  L.  Warren.  So  large  an  increase  of  the 
Endowment  Fund  cannot  but  inspire  confidence  for  the  future."  .... 
The  rector  also  received  privately  from  "a  parishioner,"  $100  for 
the  Endowment  Fund. 

I9OO. 

January  2,  1900,  at  a  meeting  of  the  vestry  held  at  the  Parish 
House,  Charles  R.  Wilson  was  elected  clerk  of  the  vestry  for  the 
ensuing  year  and  Wm.  A.  Joyce  was  elected  treasurer  of  the  parish. 

May  n,  1900,  at  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  the  following  delegates 
were  chosen  to  the  Annual  Council  of  the  Diocese  of  Western  New 
York  to  be  held  at  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  on  May  15,  1900  :  William  H. 
Walker,  James  Sweeney  and  Henry  R.  Hopkins,  M.  D. 

The  following  letter,  received  from  the  executors  of  the  last  will  and 
testament  of  Hon.  James  Murdock  Smith,  deceased,  was  then  presented  : 

"  To  the   Rector,  Churchwardens   and  Vestrymen  of  St.  Paul's  Church, 
Buffalo. 
"  Gentlemen, —  We  have  pleasure  in  transmitting  to  you  herewith  the  amount  of  the 
legacy  bequeathed  to  St.  Paul's  Church,  Buffalo,  toward  its  Endowment  Fund,  by  the 
terms  of  the  last  will  and  testament  of  the  late  James  M.  Smith,  LL.  D.,  Chancellor 
of  the  Diocese  of  Western  New  York,  our  honored  and  beloved  father. 
' '  Very  truly  yours, 

"(Signed.)         MARGARET  L.  WILSON, 
"PHILIP  S.  SMITH, 

"  Executors." 
A  vote  of  thanks  was  resolved  by  the  vestry  to  the  executors,  and  the 
minute  was  entered:  .  .  .  "  We  also  wish  to  put  on  record  our  appreciation 
of  this  welcome  gift  to  the  object  so  dear  to  the  members  of  the  parish." 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  231 

The  matter  of  protecting  the  Endowment  Fund  of  the  parish  by 
legislative  enactment  was  then  discussed,  and,  on  motion,  referred  to 
a  committee,  consisting  of  Mr.  Viele  and  Mr.  Wilson.  The  vestry 
also  resolved  :  "  That  a  vote  of  thanks  be  extended  to  Mr.  Philip  S. 
Smith,  for  the  efficient  services  rendered  by  him  during  the  past  year, 
as  a  member  of  the  music  committee." 

October  22,  1900,  at  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  the  rector  presented 
the  application  of  the  Rev.  Coleman  E.  Byram  for  recommendation  by 
the  vestry  to  the  bishop  for  ordination  to  the  priesthood  ;  also  the 
application  of  Frank  Wayne  Abbott,  Jr.,  for  recommendation  for  admis- 
sion as  a  candidate  for  the  holy  ministry. 

The  rector  reported  the  gift,  from  Edmund  Hayes,  of  a  set  of 
offering-plates  for  the  church,  and  a  vote  of  thanks  for  the  gift  was 
tendered  Mr.  Hayes  by  the  vestry. 

On  November  10,  1900,  at  the  rectory,  New  York  City,  died  the 
Rev.  John  W.  Brown,  D.  D.,  rector  of  St.  Thomas's  Church. 

Dr.  Brown  had  been  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Buffalo,  from  May 
7,  1882,  to  June  1,  1 888,  when  he  left  to  take  charge  of  the  important 
parish  of  St.  Thomas's.  He  had  been  very  successful  in  his  work 
at  St.  Paul's  and  was  much  beloved  here.  A  short  account  of  his 
life  up  to  the  time  of  his  coming  to  Buffalo  will  be  found  at  page  135. 

Dr.  Brown,  who  was  in  his  sixty-fourth  year  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
had  been  in  somewhat  feeble  health  for  three  or  four  months,  but  the 
news  of  his  passing  away  came  with  great  suddenness  and  shock  to 
his  many  faithful  friends. 

After  the  burial,  a  largely-attended  meeting  was  held  in  New  York 
to  do  honor  to  his  memory,  and  from  the  tribute  adopted  at  this  meet- 
ing we  quote  the  following  : 

....  "  The  very  large  gathering  assembled  of  bishops,  clergymen,  and  faithful 
laity  attested  the  appreciation  of  the  life  and  ministry  just  closed,  while  it  expressed 
the  earnest  desire  to  do  honor  to  the  good  priest,  the  loyal  citizen,  the  noble  man. 
The  Church  had  called  him  to  exalted  places  and  responsible  positions  in  her  work  and 
councils.  As  a  rector  in  Middletown,  Del.,  Philadelphia,  Detroit,  Cleveland,  Buffalo 
and  New  York,  a  member  of  the  General  Convention  at  several  sessions,  in  the  Board 


232  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

of  Missions,  or  manager  later  on   and  associated  with  representative  bodies  in  civic 
life,  he  was  always  active  and  honored. 

"  His  long  ministry,  served  in  such  large  centers  of  influence,  has  been  a  fruitful 
one,  and  the  abundant  success  of  his  life  and  vocation  came  from  the  sterling  quali- 
ties, the  tine  character,  the  exalted  purposes  of  the  man.  We  have  known  in  Dr. 
Brown  the  type  of  a  priest,  in  which  firm  convictions  of  faith  created  high  ideals  of 
duty,  and  resolute  performance  of  it.  For  his  views  of  the  Church  and  her  mission, 
his  estimation  of  the  privilege  and  responsibility  of  his  high  office,  and  his  ardent 
devotion  to  the  weal  of  his  fellow-man,  made  his  life  potent  in  influence,  far-reaching 
in  its  grasp." 

On  Sunday  afternoon,  November  10,  1901,  after  Evensong,  a  por- 
trait bust  of  the  late  Dr.  Brown  in  Carrara  marble,  executed  by  J. 
Massey  Rhind,  was  unveiled  in  a  niche  on  the  epistle  side  of  the  chan- 
cel of  St.  Thomas's  Church,  where  it  had  been  placed  by  the  parishion- 
ers as  a  memorial  to  their  late  rector. 

The  body  rests  in  a  plot  of  ground  at  Woodlawn  Cemetery,  New 
York  City,  given  by  some  of  Dr.  Brown's  personal  friends,  who,  in 
1902,  erected  above  the  grave  a  monument  in  the  form  of  a  Celtic 
cross,  fifteen  feet  in  height,  of  beautiful  design. 

December  3,  1900,  being  Monday  in  the  week  beginning  with  the 
First  Sunday  in  Advent,  the  annual  parish  meeting  was  held  in  the 
church  building  for  the  election  of  a  churchwarden  for  two  years,  and 
for  three  vestrymen  for  three  years  each.  In  the  absence  of  the 
rector,  the  senior  warden,  William  H.  Walker,  presided.  A.  Porter 
Thompson  was  elected  churchwarden  for  two  years,  and  James  R. 
Smith,  Sheldon  T.  Viele  and  John  R.  H.  Richmond  were  elected  ves- 
trymen. The  other  members  of  the  vestry  for  this  year,  holding  over 
from  previous  elections  were  :  William  H.  Walker,  warden  ;  and 
Albert  J.  Barnard,  Edmund  Hayes,  James  Sweeney,  Hobart  Weed, 
Charles  R.  Wilson  and  Dr.  M.  D.  Mann,  vestrymen. 

December  27,  1900,  at  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  Charles  R.  Wilson 
was  re-elected  clerk  and  Wm.  A.  Joyce  was  re-elected  treasurer  of  the 
parish  for  the  ensuing  year. 

It  was  resolved  :  "  That  the  vestry  cordially  approve  of  the  sugges- 
tion of  the  rector,  that  a  united  effort  be  made  to  obtain  by  subscrip- 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  233 

tions  the  sum  of  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  ($25,000),  in  payments 
running  through  two  years,  for  the  purpose  of  paying  off  the  mort- 
gage on  the  Parish  House,  and  of  liquidating  the  floating  debt ;  and 
that  the  rector  and  Messrs.  Hobart  Weed  and  Charles  R.  Wilson  be  a 
committee  to  take  charge  of  the  subscriptions  ;  no  subscription  to  be 
binding  unless  the  sum  of  $20,000  is  subscribed."  At  this  meeting  of 
the  vestry,  the  report  of  the  rector,  from  the  special  committee  to  which 
was  referred  the  matter  of  securing  a  larger  co-operation  in  the  work  of 
the  parish,  was  presented,  and,  on  motion,  accepted  and  adopted. 
This  was  the  constitution  of  certain  "  parish  committees  "  to  act  in 
co-operation  with  the  vestry,  in  the  belief  that  it  "  would  tend  to  increase 
interest  in  the  parish  and  its  affairs."  The  committees  are  composed 
of  the  younger  men  of  the  parish,  and  "  have  in  charge  such  details  of 
the  work,  formerly  done  by  the  vestry,  as  could  be  wisely  and  safely 
delegated  to  others."  Any  vacancies  which  may  occur  are  to  be  filled 
by  appointment  by  the  vestry. 

PARISH  COMMITTEES. 
(Co-operating  with  the  vestry.) 

On  Condition  and  Repair  of  Parish  House. —  E.  Corning  Townsend,  chairman; 
Marshall  J.  Root,  Robert  Palen,  Philip  S.  Smith,  Howard  A.  Baker. 

On  Church  Grounds  and  Church  Repairs.  —  Charles  R.  Wilson,  chairman  ;  H.  C. 
Harrower,  W.  V.  Warren,  John  M.  Provoost,  G.  Hunter  Bartlett 

On  Lights  and  Heating.  —  John  K.  Walker,  chairman  ;  Walter  Devereux,  Norman 
Rogers,  W.  B.  Gallagher. 

On  Church  Bells. —  Robert  M.  Codd,  Jr.,  chairman;  Albert  Thompson,  Gerald 
Richmond,  James  Sweeney,  Jr.,  William  Alex.  Faxon. 

On  Pews  and  Pew  Rentals.  —  John  R.  H.  Richmond,  chairman;  W.  T.  Atwater, 
Henry  Adsit  Bull,   O.  H.  P.  Champlin,  W.  H.  Walker,  Jr. 

On  the  Envelope  System. —  Maxwell  S.  Wheeler,  chairman;  Shelton  Weed,  J.  N. 
Frierson,  George  T.  Ballachey,   John  H.  Baker. 

On  the  Sunday  Morning  Offering  (to  take  the  place  of  vestrymen  when  absent). — 
W.  V.  Warren,  Walter  Devereux,  E.  S.  Warren,  John  K.  Walker. 

In  the  "Year  Book"  for  1900  is  the  following  :  "  Resignation  of 
Mr.  Pease.     On  the  2^d  of  November  last  the  rector  received  a  letter 


234  History  of  St.  PauVs  Church. 

from  John  Pease,  the  senior  member  of  the  vestry,  in  which  he 
stated  that  owing  to  the  infirmities  of  advancing  years  he  desired  to  be 
relieved  of  active  service,  and  to  resign  his  position  as  a  vestryman. 
At  the  parish  meeting  on  the  Monday  after  Advent  Sunday,  announce- 
ment was  made  of  Mr.  Pease's  resignation  and  John  R.  H.  Rich- 
mond was  elected  in  his  place.  The  first  meeting  of  the  vestry 
thereafter  was  on  December  27th,  when  the  two  wardens  were  chosen 
as  a  committee  to  prepare  a  suitable  minute  to  be  entered  upon  the 
records  of  the  vestry  and  to  send  a  copy  of  the  same  to  Mr.  Pease. 
The  minute  .  .  .  .  truly  expresses  the  feeling  of  the  whole  parish."  .  .  .  . 

After  referring  to  the  very  long  term  during  which  Mr.  Pease  had 
been  an  active  and  influential  member  of  the  vestry,  the  minute  con- 
cludes as  follows  : 

"  Always  prompt  in  his  attendance  at  our  meetings,  always  faithful  in  the  discharge 
of  his  duties  as  a  member  of  the  vestry,  we  cannot  part  with  him  without  expressing  the 
high  regard  and  esteem  that  is  felt  for  him  by  each  one  of  us,  and  assuring  him  that 
our  best  wishes  for  his  health  and  happiness  will  always  attend  him. 

"  Resolved,  That  this  minute  be  entered  upon  the  records  of  the  vestry,  and  that  a 
copy  of  the  same  be  sent  to  Mr.  Pease." 

Mr.  Pease  was  first  elected  to  the  vestry  in  1855. 

At  the  vestry  meeting  of  December  27,  1900,  the  committee  ap- 
pointed on  May  11,  1900,  for  that  purpose,  reported  the  following  draft 
of  an  Act  for  protecting  the  Endowment  Fund.  This  draft  was  ap- 
proved by  the  vestry,  and  the  committee  was  requested  to  take  the 
necessary  steps  to  obtain  its  enactment  by  the  Legislature  of  the  State 
of  New  York.    The  Act  was  passed  by  the  Legislature  in  1901,  and  reads 

as  follows  : 

AN   ACT 

To  authorize  and  direct  St.  Paul's  Church,  in  Buffalo,  to  set  apart  certain  funds,  as  a 
permanent  endowment  fund,  and  to  restrict  the  use  and  investment  thereof. 

The  people  of  the  State  of  New  York  represented  in  Senate  and  Assembly  do  enact 
as  follows  : 

Section  i.  The  corporation  known  as  St.  Paul's  Church,  in  Buffalo,  is  hereby 
empowered  to  take  and  hold  real  and  personal  property,  given,  devised  or  bequeathed 
to  it  absolutely  or  in  trust,  thereby  establishing  and  maintaining  an  endowment  fund, 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  235 

and  all  property  so  given,  devised,  or  bequeathed  to  it  unless  otherwise  specified  in 
such  gift,  devise,  or  bequest,  together  with  the  trust  fund  now  held  by  it,  shall  con- 
stitute a  fund  to  be  known  as  the  "Permanent  Endowment  Fund,"  the  income  of 
which  only  shall  be  subject  to  expenditure  for  parish  and  church  uses  and  purposes. 
No  part  of  said  fund,  either  principal  or  income,  shall  be  liable  either  at  law  or  in 
equity  to  the  claims  of  the  future  creditors  of  said  corporation,  or  subject  to  any 
mortgage  or  lien  heretofore  or  hereafter  executed  or  created  by  it. 

Sec.  2.  The  control  of  said  "  Permanent  Endowment  Fund  "  shall  be  vested  in  the 
vestry  of  the  said  St.  Paul's  Church,  and  the  laws  of  this  State  as  the  same  now  exist, 
or  shall  hereafter  be  enacted,  relating  to  securities  in  which  the  deposits  in  savings 
banks  may  be  invested,  shall  apply  to  and  govern  the  said  vestry  in  the  investment  of 
the  said  fund,  except  that  where  investments  are  made  in  bonds  and  mortgages  on 
unencumbered  real  property,  the  amount  loaned  shall  not  exceed  sixty-five  percentum 
on  a  conservative  valuation  of  such  property. 

Sec.  3.  Any  officer  of  the  said  corporation,  or  any  other  person,  who  shall  divert 
or  apply  any  part  or  portion  of  the  principal  of  said  Permanent  Endowment  Fund, 
or  consent  to  the  diversion  or  application  of  any  part  or  portion  of  said  fund,  to  any 
other  use  or  purpose  than  that  provided  for  in  the  foregoing  sections,  or  shall  invest 
the  said  fund,  or  any  portion  thereof,  otherwise  than  as  hereinabove  provided,  shall 
be  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor. 

Sec.  4.     This  act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 

The  bequest  of  Mrs.  Agnes  L.  Warren  of  $3,000  to  the  Endowment 
Fund,  could  not,  under  the  provision  of  her  will,  be  paid  over  by  her 
executors  until  some  such  protection  of  the  fund  as  the  above  mentioned 
act  provides  for  had  been  secured.  The  bequest  can  now  be  added  to 
the  fund. 

At  the  same  meeting  of  the  vestry,  December  27th,  the  rector 
reported  the  receipt  of  $1,000  the  gift  of  Mrs.  Catharine  B.  Hayes 
to  the  Endowment  Fund,  being  an  addition  to  the  "  George  E.  Hayes 
Memorial."  The  vestry  passed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Mrs.  Hayes  for 
her  very  kind  gift.  Including  the  above  additions,  the  Endowment  Fund 
now  amounts  to  $16,131.99.  The  rector  also  reported  that  Mrs.  Thomas 
King  Mann  had  placed  a  silver  water  pitcher  in  the  robing  room  for  the 
use  of  the  clergy.     The  clerk  was  requested  to  acknowledge  this  gift. 

The  "Year  Book"  for  1900  has  the  following  "Notes":  "The 
rector  wishes  to  announce    to   the   parish    that    he   has  entered   into 


236  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

co-operation  with  the  Charity  Organization  Society  in  its  '  Church 
District  Plan,'  and  has  taken  under  his  care  what  is  known  as 
'  District  50.'  This  district  is  a  large  one,  bounded  by  Court  and 
Clinton  streets  on  the  north,  Michigan  on  the  east,  Scott  on  the  south, 
and  the  Terrace  on  the  west.  It  is  the  section  of  the  city  which  would 
naturally  fall  to  the  care  of  our  parish,  and  to  which  much  care  and 

work  have  always  been  given In  addition  to  the  gifts  already 

mentioned  in  connection  with  the  Endowment  Fund,  grateful  acknowl- 
edgment must  be  made  for  several  other  acts  of  generosity  toward 
the  parish  during  the  past  year.  Through  the  interest  and  effort  of 
several  of  the  younger  men  of  the  parish,  [especially  C.  R.  Wilson 
and  J.  M.  Provoost,]  and  the  liberal  support  of  their  plan  by  others, 
a  subscription  of  $420  was  raised  to  place  a  concrete  sidewalk, 
twenty- six  feet  wide,  on  the  Church  Street  side  of  the  church.  The 
amount  given  was  sufficient  not  only  to  make  this  fine  improve- 
ment, but  also  to  provide  a  board  covering,  with  hand-rail,  for  the 
stone  steps  of  the  entrances  on  Pearl  and  Erie  streets.  From  General 
Hayes  has  come  the  gift  of  the  beautiful  plates  for  the  offering  ; 
from  Mrs.  Robert  P.  Wilson  and  Charles  R.  Wilson,  prayer  books 
and  hymnals  for  the  chancel,  to  complete  the  Memorial  of  Robert 
P.  Wilson  ;  from  Mrs.  Thomas  King  Mann,  a  silver  pitcher  for  the 
rector's  robing-room  ;  and  from  Philip  S.  Smith  and  Charles  R. 
Wilson,  liberal  expenditures  to  strengthen  and  enrich  the  music  ; 
and  from  Mrs.  William  Y.  Warren,  additional  book  cases  for  the  study  in 
the  rectory  and  a  generous  gift  to  help  the  benevolent  work  in  our  new 
'Church  District.'  "  .  .  .  . 

1 90 1. 

January  9,  1901,  the  rector  and  vestry  met  the  members  of  the 
recently-formed  "  Parish  Committees,"  at  the  residence  of  Charles  R. 
Wilson,  to  make  arrangements  for  the  work  to  be  done  by  these  com- 
mittees, according  to  the  plan  explained  and  outlined,  at  this  meeting, 
by  the  rector.     (For  committees,  see  page  233.) 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  237 

February  2,  1901,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  day  of  burial  of  Queen 
Victoria,  a  very  impressive  memorial  service  was  held  at  St.  Paul's. 
Bishop  Walker's  address  was  considered  one  of  the  ablest  and  most 
eloquent  tributes  paid  to  the  dead  Queen  by  any  Buffalonian.  It  was 
estimated  that  over  2,000  persons  were  present,  and  the  church  was 
crowded  to  the  doors.  Seats  were  reserved  for  the  societies  of  Sons 
of  St.  George,  St.  Andrew's  Scottish  Society,  and  the  Victoria  Club, 
who  were  present  in  a  body.  The  church  was  elaborately  draped  in 
black  and  purple,  and  with  the  American  and  British  flags.  A  special 
form  of  memorial  service,  authorized  by  the  bishop,  was  used,  and 
the  music  was  finely  rendered  by  the  vested  choir,  assisted  by  Scinta's 
band. 

The  noon-day  Lenten  services,  now  held  every  year  at  St.  Paul's, 
are  very  largely  attended  and  appreciated.  The  "  Buffalo  Commer- 
cial "  of  February  19  and  27,  1901,  says,  editorially:  "The  Rev.  Dr. 
Regester,  the  universally  loved  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Cathedral,  declared 
through  the  '  Commercial '  last  evening  that  the  short  and  edifying 
Lenten  noon-day  meetings  were  for  all  who  profess  and  call  themselves 

Christians.     His  invitation   is  in  the  spirit  of  broad  liberality 

The  attendance  at  the  St.  Paul's  noon-day  meetings  must  be  very 
gratifying  to  Dr.  Regester.     Yesterday  some  of  Buffalo's  busiest  men 

were  present The  invitation  was  a  broadly  Catholic  one,  and 

it  has  been  accepted  in  that  spirit."  .... 

March  21,  1901,  died  Mrs.  Laetitia  Porter  Viele,  widow  of  Henry 
K.  Viele.  Mrs.  Viele  was  born  in  the  Village  of  Black  Rock,  now  a 
part  of  the  City  of  Buffalo,  on  March  16,  1821,  and  had  been  a  resi- 
dent of  the  city  for  over  eighty  years.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Sheldon 
Thompson,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Buffalo,  and  one  of  the 
founders  of  St.  Paul's  and  a  member  of  its  first  vestry,  and  Mrs.  Viele 
was  a  life-long  member  and  communicant  of  St.  Paul's,  and  active  in 
all  the  charities  and  good  works  of  the  parish.  She  was  married  to 
Henry  K.  Viele  in  1843.  ^rs-  Viele  was  a  sister  of  A.  Porter  Thomp- 
son, one  of  the  present  churchwardens,  and  her  son,  Sheldon  Thomp- 


238  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

son  Viele,  has  been  for  several  years  a  member  of  St.  Paul's  vestry. 
Her  sister,  Mrs.  Agnes  L.  Warren,  died  only  a  few  months  before 
her,  in  December,  1899. 

April  30,  1901,  the  Hon.  John  E.  Pound  of  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  was 
appointed  Chancellor  of  the  Diocese  of  Western  New  York,  by  Bishop 
Walker,  to  succeed  the  late  Judge  James  M.  Smith  in  that  office. 

May  10,  1901,  at  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  William  H.  Walker,  A. 
Porter  Thompson  and  Dr.  H.  R.  Hopkins  were  appointed  delegates 
to  the  Diocesan  Council  to  be  held  in  Buffalo,  May  27,  1901. 

June  10,  1 90 1,  at  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  it  was  resolved  to  refuse 
consent  to  the  proposed  connection  of  the  Pearl  Street  line  of  the 
International  Traction  Company  with  its  line  in  Erie  Street,  and  of  the 
latter  line  with  its  line  in  Niagara  Street. 

It  was  the  unanimous  sense  of  the  meeting  that  the  proposed  con- 
nection—  resulting  in  the  massing  of  cars  and  the  attendant  great 
increase  of  noise  and  confusion  in  their  operation  —  would  be  very 
destructive  to  the  use  of  the  church  for  divine  worship,  and  would  be 
a  perpetual  nuisance.  The  following  committee  was  appointed  to  take 
charge  of  the  matter  :  Edmund  Hayes,  chairman  ;  Hobart  Weed  and 
Charles  R.  Wilson. 

June  18,  1 90 1,  The  Bishop  Coxe  Memorial  Hall  at  Geneva,  N.  Y., 
was  dedicated  with  appropriate  ceremonies.  All  churchmen  in  Western 
New  York  are  interested  in  this  beautiful  memorial  to  the  late  Bishop  of 
the  Diocese,  who  was  so  universally  revered  and  beloved,  and  St.  Paul's, 
Buffalo,  has  shown  its  interest  by  contributing  largely  to  the  building 
fund  —  the  amount  subscribed  by  members  of  this  parish  being  nearly 
eleven  thousand  dollars,  over  one-third  of  the  cost  of  the  memorial. 

"The  Churchman"  says:  "The  building,  of  brick  with  terra- 
cotta trimmings,  is  the  gift  of  friends  of  the  late  Bishop  Coxe  within 
and  without  the  diocese,  and  was  presented  to  the  trustees  of  Hobart 

College   for   the    purposes   of    that  corporation It  is  in    the 

Elizabethan  style  of  architecture.  Over  the  entrance  is  the  inscrip- 
tion :    '  A  Memorial  to  Arthur  Cleveland  Coxe.'  "  .  .  .  . 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  239 

The  building  contains  a  large  assembly  hall  with  platform  and  gal- 
lery, an  attractive  room  for  the  Hobart  College  Club,  offices  for  the 
president  and  other  officers,  and  class-rooms  for  recitations,  and  is  on 
the  west  line  of  the  college  campus. 


In  the  afternoon  of  September  6,  1901,  William  McKinley,  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  while  holding  a  public  reception  in  the 
Temple  of  Music,  at  the  Pan-American  Exposition  at  Buffalo,  was 
twice  shot  by  an  anarchist  assassin,  who  had  approached  him  with  the 
apparent  intention  of  grasping  his  hand  in  greeting.  The  stricken 
President  was  removed  to  the  Exposition  hospital,  and  skilled  surgeons 
hastily  summoned,  who  decided  on  an  immediate  operation,  following 
which  the  President  was  removed  to  the  house  of  John  G.  Milburn, 
president  of  the  Exposition,  which  had  been  set  aside  for  his  use  dur- 
ing his  visit  to  Buffalo.  After  an  anxious  week  of  apparent  improve- 
ment and  sudden  decline,  the  President  died  there  in  the  early  morning 
of  Saturday,  September  14th. 

On  Sunday,  the  15th,  a  brief  funeral  service  was  held  at  the 
house,  after  which  the  body  was  taken  in  procession  through  streets 
hung  with  mourning  and  thronged  with  sorrowing  people  to  the  City 
Hall,  where  it  lay  in  state  until  nearly  midnight,  100,000  persons  pass- 
ing through  the  rotunda  to  look  their  last  upon  the  noble  and  beautiful 
face  of  the  dead  President.  The  body  was,  on  Monday,  the  16th,  taken 
to  Washington,  and  from  there  to  Canton,  Ohio,  the  President's  home, 
where  the  burial  was  held  on  the  afternoon  of  Thursday,  September 
19th.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  19th,  memorial  services  were  held  in 
almost  every  civilized  country  of  the  world.  In  all  parts  of  the 
United  States,  in  accordance  with  President  Roosevelt's  proclamation, 
the  day  was  observed  as  one  of  mourning,  unprecedented  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  country.  Special  daily  services  of  prayer  for  the  President 
had  been  held  at  St.  Paul's  during  the  trying  days  preceding  his  death. 
The  memorial   service  at   St.   Paul's,  in  the   afternoon   of  September 


240  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

19th,  was  a  very  solemn  one,  and  was  attended  by  a  great  throng  of 
people,  many  standing  throughout,  and  many  more  being  unable  to 
obtain  admission  to  the  church.  The  muffled  tolling  of  the  bells  ceased, 
and  the  Service  for  the  Burial  of  the  Dead  was  said,  preceded  by 
Chopin's  Funeral  March,  and  the  singing  of  the  hymn,  "  Nearer,  my 
God,  to  Thee."  The  church  was  heavily  draped  in  black  and  white, 
and  the  American  colors.  The  services  were  conducted  by  the  rector, 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Regester,  and  the  music,  consisting  of  anthems  and 
hymns  —  among  them  "Lead,  Kindly  Light,"  which  had  always  been 
a  favorite  with  the  President —  was  sung  by  the  vested  choir,  assisted 
by  the  74th  Regiment  Band.  The  service  closed  with  the  singing  of 
"America,"  followed  by  Hartmann's  Funeral  March.  The  musical 
part  of  the  service  was  under  the  general  charge  of  Andrew  T.  Web- 
ster, organist  and  choir-master  of  St.  Paul's.  There  was  no  sermon, 
and  none  was  needed.  The  beauty  and  dignity  of  the  President's 
character  —  long  realized  by  his  friends  and  intimates  —  had  been  fully 
and  strongly  revealed  to  the  people  during  the  patiently-borne  suffer- 
ing of  his  last  days.  After  he  was  shot,  the  President  seemed  to  think 
only  of  others  —  that  his  murderer  should  not  be  harmed  by  the  fury 
of  the  people  —  that  his  tenderly-loved,  invalid  wife  should  be  gently 
told  —  that  the  interests  of  the  Exposition  might  be  uninjured.  Of 
his  assassin  he  spoke  only  words  of  pity,  saying  that  "  he  knew  not 
what  he  was  doing."  During  his  week  of  suffering,  he  made  no  com- 
plaints, but  won  the  hearts  of  all  his  attendants  by  his  brave  cheer- 
fulness, his  gentleness  and  thoughtfulness.  Shortly  before  he  passed 
into  unconsciousness,  which  was  only  a  few  hours  before  the  end,  he 
spoke  his  farewell  —  "Good  bye  all,  it  is  God's  way,  His  will  be  done, 
not  ours," — and  he  entered  into  rest  with  the  faint  words  on  his  lips, 
of  the  hymn  henceforth  to  be  associated  with  all  memories  of  him  — 
"Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee." 


The  physicians  of  the  President  were  many,  during  the  hopeless 
fight  for  his  life  which  occupied  that  anxious  week.     Among  them,  as 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  24 1 

the  surgeon  who,  with  Dr.  Mynter  as  his  chief  assistant,  performed  the 
skillful  operation  which  it  was  hoped,  and  at  first  believed,  would  save 
his  life,  was  Dr.  Matthew  D.  Mann,  who  has  been  for  several  years 
a  member  of  the  vestry  of  St.  Paul's. 

November  14,  190 1,  at  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  it  was  decided  to 
continue  the  "  envelope  system  "  of  offerings,  which  has  been  in  suc- 
cessful operation  since  1894.  The  publication  of  the  "  Year  Book" 
for  1901  was  authorized,  and  an  appropriation  of  fifty  dollars  for 
Christmas  greens  was  made.  The  rector  reported  that  the  sum  of 
$28,000  had  been  secured  on  the  subscription,  now  being  collected  by 
the  rector  and  committee,  for  the  payment  of  the  floating  indebtedness 
and  the  $15,000  mortgage  on  the  Parish  House.  The  vestry  resolved 
that  all  excess  of  the  amount  should  be  applied  to  reducing  the  mort- 
gage on  the  rectory. 

December  2,  1901,  being  Monday  in  the  week  beginning  with  the 
First  Sunday  in  Advent,  the  annual  election  of  the  parish  was  held  in 
St.  Paul's  Church  for  the  election  of  a  churchwarden  for  two  years 
and  three  vestrymen  for  three  years  each.  The  rector  presided,  and 
the  following  persons  were  elected  :  William  H.  Walker,  warden  ;  and 
Albert  J.  Barnard,  Matthew  D.  Mann,  M.  D.,  and  Charles  R.  Wilson, 
vestrymen.  Those  holding  over  from  previous  elections  were  :  A.  Por- 
ter Thompson,  warden  ;  and  James  R.  Smith,  Edmund  Hayes,  James 
Sweeney,  Sheldon  T.  Viele,  Hobart  Weed  and  John  R.  H.  Richmond, 
vestrymen. 

December  21,  1901,  at  Emmanuel  Church,  Boston,  Mass.,  took 
place  the  consecration  of  the  Rev.  Charles  Henry  Brent,  D.  D.,  to  be 
Missionary  Bishop  of  the  Philippines.  The  "  Churchman  "  of  Decem- 
ber 28th  speaks  of  this  as  "  in  many  ways  a  memorable  event.  For 
the  national  Church  it  betokened  an  endeavor  to  keep  pace  with  the 
country's  growth,  ....  while  in  Boston  it  stood  for  the  offering  of 
one  of  the  city's  best-known  and  most  valued  clergymen  for  distant 
missionary  work."  ....      During  the    rectorship    of    the   Rev.   Dr. 


24-  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

Brown  at  St.  Paul's,  Buffalo,  previous  to  1888,  the  Rev.  Charles  H. 
1  irent  was  one  of  his  assistants,  and  had  special  care  of  what  was 
known  at  that  time  as  St.  Andrew's  Mission. 

December  23,  1901,  at  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  Charles  R.  Wilson 
was  elected  clerk  of  the  vestry  and  William  A.  Joyce  treasurer  of 
the  parish,  for  the  ensuing  year.  At  the  same  meeting,  on  motion,  it 
was  resolved  :  "  That  the  rector  be  relieved  from  the  further  pay- 
ment of  interest  on  the  mortgage  covering  the  rectory,  and  from  the 
further  payment  of  taxes  on  said  property."     (See  page  200.) 

Lorenzo  Harris,  who  was  appointed  in  September,  1893,  is  still  the 
faithful  and  efficient  sexton  of  the  parish. 

The  close  of  the  year  1901  brings  the  church  to  within  a  few  weeks 
of  its  eighty-fifth  anniversary,  which  occurs  on  February  10,  1902  — 
the  parish  having  been  organized  in  the  then  small  Village  of  Buffalo, 
on  February  10,  1817. 

The  tenth  anniversary  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Regester's  rectorate  of  St. 
Paul's  also  falls  in  1902,  our  rector  having  taken  charge  in  July, 
[892.     (See  page  193.) 

A  decade  marked  by  the  thorough  organizing,  systematizing  and 
broadening  of  all  departments  of  the  parish  work,  upon  every  detail 
of  which  is  left  the  stamp  of  the  rector's  earnest  and  stimulating  per- 
sonality, guiding  and  directing  most  wisely  and  well. 

A  decade  in  which  the  loving  respect  and  affection  of  his  people 
have  steadily  increased,  as  they  have  come  more  and  more  to  realize 
their  rector's  able  and  self-denying  discharge  of  the  exacting  duties  of 
his  office,  and  how  the  constant  demands  made  upon  his  time  and 
strength  by  the  growing  work  of  the  parish  are  never  allowed  to 
thrust  aside  his  unfailing  personal  ministrations  to  the  sick,  the  poor, 
and  the  sorrowing. 

The  growth  of  St.  Paul's  is  most  strikingly  shown  in  the  "  Year 
Book,"  dated  Advent,  1901. 

The   first   "Year  Book"  of  St.    Paul's  was  published  at   Advent, 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  243 

1S93.  The  nine  annual  books  are  most  valuable,  and  in  form,  arrange- 
ment, and  matter  are  models  of  what  such  publications  should  be. 
They  are  compiled  and  edited  by  the  rector.  Never,  before  these 
books  were  published,  have  the  affairs  of  the  parish — the  finances, 
the  various  funds,  the  condition  of  the  different  societies,  and  the 
extensive  work  and  membership  of  these  numerous  organizations  — 
been  so  clearly  and  attractively  explained  to  the  people  of  St.  Paul's. 
Never  before  has  the  entire  congregation  been  brought  so  closely  in 
touch  with  what  is  being  accomplished,  year  by  year,  in  the  organized 
effort  of  the  parish. 

The    Prefatory   Notes    of   the    "Year    Book"    for    1901    has    the 

following  : 

"It  is  with  great  gratification  that  the  rector  is  able  to  state  that  in  this  eighty-fifth 
year  of  its  life  this  parish  has  freed  itself  from  the  burden  of  indebtedness  under  which 
it  has  labored  ever  since  the  rebuilding  of  the  church  after  the  fire  of  1888.  The  sub- 
scription for  this  object,  proposed  by  the  vestry  last  year,  has  been  quietly  brought  to 
the  attention  of  our  people  and  has  found  them  ready  with  a  most  generous  response. 
It  was  asked  at  first  that  the  two  anniversaries  occurring  in  1902  —  the  eighty-fifth 
of  the  parish  and  the  tenth  of  the  present  rectorate — be  marked  by  the  gift  of 
■f  25,000  to  be  applied  to  the  payment  of  the  mortgage  on  the  Parish  House  and 
the  floating  indebtedness.  That  amount  was  secured  in  the  course  of  the  summer 
and  early  autumn  and  the  subscription  has  been  carried  on  as  speedily  as  might 
be  without  interference  with  other  financial  matters  of  the  parish,  until  now  it 
has  reached  a  sum  of  over  $28,000.  This  increased  amount  has  been  subscribed 
on  the  understanding  that  after  the  discharge  of  the  other  indebtedness  the  balance 
is  to  be  applied  to  the  payment  of  the  debt  on  the  rectory.  The  rectory  was 
purchased  in  1895  f°r  $20,000.  Five  thousand  of  this  amount  was  raised  and  paid  at 
the  time  of  the  purchase.  The  expense  of  the  rectory  to  the  parish  since  that  time  has 
been  only  the  amount  of  one-half  of  the  taxes  and  the  cost  of  some  slight  repairs. 
As  agreed  upon  at  the  time  of  the  purchase,  the  other  half  of  the  taxes  and  the  interest 
on  the  mortgage  of  !§i 5,000  placed  on  the  property  has  been  paid  by  the  rector.  The 
liberality  of  our  people  will  enable  the  vestry  to  considerably  reduce  this  mortgage  and 
the  rector  is  to  be  relieved  of  any  further  responsibility  for  the  interest.  This  action 
of  the  vestry  is  made  possible  by  the  large  saving  of  interest  which  will  be  effected  by 
the  payment  of  the  debt.  By  this  happy  result  of  its  brave  effort  the  parish  will  find 
itself  in   its  eighty-sixth  year  in  this  position  :    The  debt  of  .$  10,000  remaining  from 


244  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

the  rebuilding  of  the  church  paid,  with  a  new  Parish  House  and  the  $5,000  of  debt  on 
it  entirely  paid,  with  all  floating  indebtedness  paid,  with  the  rectory  nearly  one-half 
paid  for,  and  the  rector  given  the  free  use  of  his  home,  which  has  not  been  the  case 
since  Dr.  Shelton's  time  ;  and  with  an  endowment  fund  grown  large  enough  to  make 
its  annual  increase,  by  accrument  of  interest  alone,  over  five  hundred  dollars  in  the  past 
year. " 

The    names    of    subscribers  to  the  above-mentioned  subscription 
of  1901  will  be  found  at  page  437. 
The  rector  further  says  : 

....  "This  '  Year  Book '  shows  in  what  spirit,  and  with  what  power  of  achieve- 
ment, the  parish  comes  to  its  eighty-fifth  birthday.  The  whole  conditions  of  its  work 
have  as  entirely  changed  since  it  set  itself  to  its  spiritual  task  as  has  its  environment. 
But  your  rector  thinks  that  it  never  had  higher  ideals  or  more  loyal  spirit  of  service  for 
Christ  and  His  Church  than  it  has  to-day.  And  perhaps  it  never  faced  its  work  with 
greater  strength  and  braver  heart.  The  development  of  its  life  and  the  path  by  which 
it  has  come  to  what  it  is  to-day  will  be  fully  shown  in  the  '  History  '  now  in  press.   .    .    . 

"  The  endowment  fund  as  given  in  the  treasurer's  statement  last  year  amounted  to 
$l3>  "S1-00-  This  year  the  amount  given  is  $16,570.44.  This  increase  represents  the 
addition  to  the  fund  of  the  $3,000  bequeathed  by  Mrs.  Agnes  L.  Warren,  a  gift  of  $10 
in  the  offering  on  Easter  Day,  and  $528.45  of  interest." 

In  accordance  with  the  Act  passed  by  the  State  Legislature  in 
1 90 1,  given  in  full  at  page  234,  the  fund  known  as  the  Shelton  Memo- 
rial Endowment  Fund,  and  the  later  gifts  made  for  the  endowment  of 
the  parish,  are  now  grouped  under  the  general  title,  "  The  Permanent 
Endowment  Fund,"  prescribed  by  said  Act. 

THE  PERMANENT  ENDOWMENT  FUND. 

The  Shelton  Memorial  Fund, $6,095.44 

The  George  E.  Hayes  Memorial  Gift, 2,000.00 

The  Charlotte  Kimberly  Memorial  Gift, 1,000.00 

The  Jane  Wey  Grosvenor  Memorial  Gift, 1,000.00 

Bequest  of  Miss  Elizabeth  Bull, 475.00 

Bequest  of  Hon.  James  M.  Smith, 3,000.00 

Bequest  of  Mrs.  Agnes  L.  Warren, 3,000.00 

$16,570.44 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  245 

Advent,  1900,  Total  Fund, %^i,^Zl-99 

Offering  at  Easter, 10.00 

Bequest  of  Mrs.  Agnes  L.  Warren, 3,000.00 

Interest,  Erie  County  Savings  Bank, 105.00 

Interest,  Fidelity  Trust  Co., 233-52 

Interest,  Buffalo  Savings  Bank, 89.93 

Balance,  Advent,  1901, $16,570.44 

(See  pages  256,  292.) 

In  order  to  place  on  record  in  this  History  of  St.  Paul's  an  outline 
of  the  organization  and  work  of  the  parish  as  constituted  at  the  pres- 
ent time,  the  following  lists  of  the  clergy,  the  vestry,  the  staff,  and  the 
various  parish  societies,  compiled  from  the  "Year  Book  "  for  1901,  are 
inserted  here  : 

St.  Paul's  Ipartsb. 

Hovent,  B.  S>.  I90t. 


Corporate  Gftle : 

"St.  Paul's  Cburcb  in  Buffalo." 


TLhc  Corporation. 

IRector. 
Rev.  J.   A.   Regester,  S.  T.  D. 

TlUart>cns. 
William  H.  Walker,  A.  Porter  Thompson. 

Ucstrvjmcn. 

Albert  J.  Barnard,  James  Sweeney,  Charles  R.  Wilson, 

James  R.   Smith,  Sheldon  T.  Viele,  Matthew  D.  Mann,  M.  D. 

Edmund  Hayes,  Hobart  Weed,  John  R.  H.  Richmond. 

Clerfe  to  tbc  Ucstrv. 
Charles  R.  Wilson. 


246 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 


Zhc  Staff. 


Clergy;. 


Rev.  J.  A.  Regester,  S.  T.  D. ,  Rector. 
Rev.  Coleman  E.  Byram,  Ph.  D.,  Curate. 


Merritt  Cook, 
Harry  Faulkner, 


Heolvtes. 


Charles  Stimpson, 
Noel  Bartley, 
Roy  Van  Volkenburg. 


I  Ioward  Ganson, 
Maurice  Cooper, 


Henry  R.  Hovvland, 
Thomas  Lothrop,  M.  D. , 
Philip  S.  Smith, 
Henry  Adsit  Bull, 
Henry  R.  Hopkins,  M.  D  , 


Xav;  IReaocrs. 

Norman  Rogers,  Charles  R.  Wilson, 

J.  N.  Frierson,  George  T.  Ballachey, 

Matthew  D.  Mann,  M.  D.,  F.  W.  Abbott, 
Alexander  Hallowell,  E.  Corning  Townsend, 

John  R.  H.  Richmond,  John  K.  Walker. 


parish  Disitor. 
Miss  Eva  M.  Smiley. 

■treasurer. 
William  A.  Joyce. 

Organist  ano  Choirmaster. 
Andrew  T.  Webster. 


Sexton. 
Lorenzo  Harris. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  247 

Services. 

5un&a\2. 

8.00  A.  M.,  Holy  Communion. 
10.30  A.  M.,  Litany. 
11.00  A.  M.,  Morning  Prayer,  Holy  Communion  and  Sermon. 

3.15  P.  M.,  Sunday  School. 

4.00  P.  M.,  Evensong  and  instruction  (except  in  July  and  August). 

8.00  P.  M.  (in  winter),  Evensong  and  Sermon,  preceded  by  half-hour  Organ  Recital. 


11.00  A.  M.  and  8.00  P.  M.,  the  second  and  fourth  Sundays  of  each 
month,  and  8.00  P.  M.,  the  first  and  third  Sundays,  services  for  deaf 
mutes  are  held  in  the  Sunday  School  room. 


imeeftsfcas. 

Morning  Prayer,  daily,  except  Wednesdays  and  Fridays,  at  12.05. 

Litany,  Wednesdays  and  Fridays,  at  12.05. 

Holy  Communion,  Thursdays  and  Holy  Days,  at  11. 00  A.  M. 

The  present  number  of  communicants  is  given  as 


Gbe  Cboir. 

The  singing  in  the  church  is  led  by  a  vested  choir  of  thirteen  men 
and  twenty-two  boys  and  six  ladies. 

The  full  choir  sing  at  the  morning  service  ;  the  boys  and  a  volun- 
teer choir  of  the  men  at  work  in  the  Sunday  School,  at  the  afternoon 
service  ;  and  the  full  choir  at  the  night  service. 

An  organ  recital  is  given  every  Sunday  evening  for  half  an  hour 
before  the  service. 

Organist  an&  Cboinnaster. 
Andrew  T.  Webster. 


248  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 


Committees,  ©rsanisations,  Societies,  Etc.,  Hovent,  1901. 

The  Parish  Committees.  (Co-operating  with  the  vestry.  See  page 
233  for  members.)  — 

On  Condition  and  Repair  of  Parish  House.  —  On  Church  Grounds  and  Church  Repairs. 
—  On  Lights  and  Heating. —  On  Church  Bells. —  On  Pews  and  Pew  Rentals. —  On  the 
Ewelope  System.  —  On  the  Sunday  Morning  Offering. 

Committee  of  Ushers. —  O.  H.  P.  ChampHn,  Chairman. 

The  Altar  Society. —  President,  The  Rector;  Treasurer,  Miss  E.  C.  Cottier;  Sec- 
retary, Miss  Florence  Barnard. 

Committee  07t  Altar  Uncn  and  Vestments  of  Clergy. —  Miss  Amelia  Stevenson,  Chair- 
man. 

Committee  on  Choir  Vestments. —  Mrs.  M.  D.  Mann,  Chairman. 

Committee  on  Care  of  Chancel  and  Floral  Decorations.  —  Miss  Florence  Lee,  Chairman. 

The  Sunday  School. —  Rev.  Coleman  E.  Byram,  Superintendent.  Teachers,  62; 
scholars,  363. 


The  Sewing  School. —  Miss  Amelia  Stevenson,  Directress. 

Dress  Making  Class,  )   .,-       ...      TT     ,  .        T     , 

Tk„  it  c  U,         r  Miss  Alice  Hopkins,  Instructor. 

1  he  Home  Sewing  Class, )  ^        ' 

Cooking  Classes. —  Miss  Clara  E.  Carr,  Instructor. 

The  Kitchen  Garden,  )   ...      T  ..    „,  .  T     , 

The  Housekeepers'  Class,)"  Mlss  Laura  M<  Weisner-  Instructor. 

The  Girls'  Gymnasium  Class. —  Miss  Louise  De  Laney,  Instructor. 

Boys'  Athletic  Association. 

The  Girls'  Friendly  Society  (Parish  Chapter).—  Mrs.  M.  A.  Crockett,  Branch  Sec- 
retary ;  61  members. 

Candidates' Class  (Girls' Friendly  Society). —  Miss  Katherine  Burtis,  Associate  in 
Charge  ;  52  members. 

The  Mothers'  Meeting. —  Mrs.  Edward  M.  Atwater,  President  ;  81  members. 

The  Missionary  and  Benevolent  Society. —  President,  Mrs.  W.  Bowen  Moore;  Sec- 
retary, Mrs.  Henry  R.  Howland  ;  Treasurer  and  Purchaser,  Mrs.  Etta  Ware  Hill. 

The  Evening  Missionary  Society. —  President,  Miss  Josephine  Persch  ;  Secretary, 
Miss  Elizabeth  Brinkmann  ;  Treasurer,  Miss  Gertrude  L.  House. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  249 

The  Guild  of  the  Holy  Child  (Missionary). —  President,  Mrs.  Elisha  T.  Smith; 
Warden,  Miss  May  Barnard  ;  Secretary,  Miss  Alice  A.  Schenkelberger  ;  Treasurer, 
Miss  Charlotte  Regester. 

The  Church  Periodical  Club. —  Mrs.  William  Y.  Warren,  Parish  Librarian. 

The  Sick  Relief  (in  co-operation  with  the  District  Nursing  Association). —  Head 
Worker,  Mrs.  Thomas  K.  Mann. 

The  Shelton  Society. —  President,  Mrs.  T.  K.  Mann  ;  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Gifford 
Morgan  ;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Miss  Florence  Lee. 

The  Boys'  Club. 

The  Junior  Boys'  Club. —  Rev.  Coleman  E.  Byram,  Director. 

The  Men's  Meeting. 

The  Junior  Department  of  the  Brotherhood  of  St.  Andrew. —  Director,  the  Rector  ; 
18  members. 

The  Brotherhood  of  St.  Andrew  (Parish  Chapter,  No.  69). —  Director,  George  T. 
Ballachey ;  Secretary,  John  K.  Walker;  Treasurer,  George  Van  Volkenburg;  23 
active  members,  8  probationary  members. 

The  Deaf  Mutes'  Meeting. 

"Church  District  "  (No.  50,  in  co-operation  with  the  Charity  Organization  Society). 

A  full  account  of  the  objects  and  work  of  the  above  organizations, 
together  with  their  working  force,  members,  etc.,  is  given  in  the 
"Year  Book." 

St.  Paul's  Church  is  represented  on  the  Associate  Board  of  Man- 
agers of  the  Church  Home  by  eighteen  women  of  the  parish,  and  on 
the  "Ladies'  Hospital  Association"  of  the  Buffalo  General  Hospital 
by  four  women  of  the  parish. 

St.  Paul's  Parish  is  also  well  represented  in  the  Laymen's  Mission- 
ary League  of  the  Diocese,  which  is  an  organization  of  men  formed 
for  missionary  work  in  introducing  the  services  of  the  Church,  and 
forming  new  parishes  in  places  throughout  the  diocese  where  the  Church 
has  never  been  definitely  established.  Services  are  also  held  by  the 
League  in  prisons,  hospitals,  etc. 

It  seems  eminently  fitting  that  the  parish  of  St.  Paul's  should 
engage  largely  in  this  work,  when  we  think  of  its  own  beginning  as 
told  earlier  in  this  volume.  Through  the  missionary  efforts  of  Bishop 
Hobart  the  Church  was  planted  in  the  then  wilds  of  Western  New  York, 


250  History  of  St.  PauTs  Church. 

the  first  Episcopal  parish  on  the  "Holland  Land  Purchase"  being 
organized  in  181 1  in  the  town  of  Sheldon,  Genesee  County.  St.  Paul's 
Parish,  Buffalo,  was  organized  February  10,  1S17,  the  missionary  being 
the  Rev.  Samuel  Johnston,  whose  salary  as  missionary  was  paid  from 
funds  procured  by  the  New  York  "  Protestant  Episcopal  Society  of 
Young  Men."  (Seepage  11.)  The  "Missionary  Stipend"  of  $175, 
and  afterwards  $125  per  year,  was  paid  to  St.  Paul's  until  the  year 
1 831,  at  which  time  it  was  thought  that  the  parish  should  be  entirely 
self-supporting.     (See  page  43.) 

Parishioners  of  St   Paul's  Church  serving  on   Boards  of  Managers, 
Trustees,  etc  ,  of  Public  Institutions  : 

The  Chunk  Home. —  Two  members  from   St.  Paul's  on  Board  of  Managers;  eight- 
een women  of  the  Parish  on  Associate  Board  of  Managers. 

Buffalo  Genera/  Hospital. — Two   members   on    Board   of  Trustees  ;    four   women  on 
Board  of  Managers. 

Home  for  the  Friendless.  —  Two  members  on  Board  of  Managers. 

Ingleside  Home. —  Four  members  on  Board  of  Managers. 

District  Nursing  Association. —  One  member  on  Board  of  Managers. 

Newsboys'  and  Bootblacks'  Home. —  Two  members  on  Board  of  Trustees  ;  two  mem- 
bers on  Board  of  Managers. 

Fresh  Air  Mission. —  One  member  on  Board  of  Visitors. 

Homeopathic  Hospital.- — Three  members  on  Board  of  Trustees;  three  members  on 
Board  of  Managers. 

Charity  Organization  Society. — Two  members  on  Board  of  Trustees  ;  four  members 
on  Council. 

Women's    Educational   and    Industrial     (')iiou. — Two     members     on     Board     of 
Directors. 

The  Prison-Gate  Mission. —  One  member  on  Board  of  Managers. 
)  bung  Men's  ( 'hristian  Association. —  One  member  on  Board  of  Trustees  ;  one  mem  - 
ber  on  Board  of  Directors. 

Society     for    Prevention    of    Cruelly    to    Animals. — Two    members    on    Board    of 
Directors. 

The  total  contribution  for  public  charity  from  St.  Paul's  Parish  for 
the  year  ending  Advent,  1901,  was  $10,406. 


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With  names  of  pew  holders  in  1902, 


Compiled  from  the  records  and  a  drawing 
contributed  by  William  Carson  Francis. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  251 

I902. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry  held  on  January  30,  1902,  the  vestry 
signed  the  canonical  certificate  required  in  Arthur  S.  Mann's  applica- 
tion to  the  Standing  Committee  for  recommendation  by  the  committee 
to  the  bishop,  for  ordination  to  the  diaconate. 

At  the  vestry  meeting  of  April  21,  1902,  a  formal  resolution  was 
adopted  in  opposition  to  the  proposed  street  railway  track  in  Shelton 
Square.  The  president  of  the  company  was  duly  notified  of  the  adop- 
tion of  this  resolution. 

At  the  above  meeting,  William  H.  Walker,  A.  Porter  Thompson 
and  James  Sweeney  were  chosen  delegates  to  the  Diocesan  Council  ; 
and  Dr.  M.  D.  Mann,  J.  R.  H.  Richmond  and  Henry  Adsit  Bull  were 
chosen  as  alternates. 

By  the  bequest  of  Matthew  O'Neill,  long  a  parishioner  of  St.  Paul's, 
who  died  May  18,  1902,  aged  eighty-two  years,  Hobart  College  receives 
$30,000  and  the  Church  Charity  Foundation  $5,000. 

Mention  has  been  made  in  these  pages  of  the  opposition  of  the 
vestry  to  the  laying  of  a  street  railway  track  in  Shelton  Square  to  con- 
nect the  present  tracks  in  Erie  and  Niagara  streets,  so  as  to  form  a 
loop  for  running  cars  down  Pearl,  up  Erie,  and  across  to  Niagara 
Street  without  going  into  Main. 

The  following  account  of  the  controversy  and  the  reasons  for  its 
subsequent  settlement,  are  inserted  here  in  order  that  the  whole  mat- 
ter may  be  put  on  record,  and  clearly  understood  by  the  members  of 
the  congregation. 

January  7,  1901,  the  Buffalo  Railway  Company  attempted  to  lay  a 
curve  from  Pearl  Street  into  Erie  Street  to  form  the  first  connection 
in  the  proposed  loop.  This  work  was  promptly  stopped  by  an  injunc- 
tion, which  the  church  obtained  through  its  attorney,  Henry  Adsit  Bull. 

A  few  months  later,  all  the  street  railway  companies  in  Buffalo 
were  merged  in  the  International  Railway  Company,  whose  officials 
commenced  to  negotiate  for  the  consent  of  the  church  to  the  proposed 


252  History  of  St.  Paul's  C J  lurch. 

tracks.  The  company  stated  that  it  had  prepared  comprehensive  plans, 
in  which  the  proposed  loop  was  a  vital  feature,  for  rearranging  all  its 
lines  in  Buffalo  ;  and,  further,  if  the  church  refused  consent,  that  con- 
demnation proceedings  would  be  commenced,  and  a  fight  would  be 
made  to  obtain,  through  the  courts,  the  right  to  lay  the  tracks.  This 
statement  was  made  without  any  hostile  feeling  toward  the  church, 
but  because  the  street  railway  officials  had  decided  that  they  must  have 
the  loop  to  render  their  service  efficient. 

That  the  running  of  cars  around  three  sides  of  the  church  during 
services  would  seriously  interfere  with  religious  worship  was  very  evi- 
dent. Thus  the  interests  of  the  church  and  the  street  railway  con- 
flicted, and  in  this  situation  the  church  had  to  face  the  alternative  of 
carrying  on  a  long  litigation  against  a  wealthy  corporation  or  giving 
its  consent  upon  some  terms.  The  proposal  was  made  that  the  church 
might  consent  to  the  laying  of  the  tracks  on  condition  that  cars  should 
not  be  run  over  them  during  the  hours  of  service  on  Sundays.  The 
street  railway  officials  said  they  could  accept  this  condition,  because 
their  chief  need  of  the  tracks  was  at  those  hours  on  week-days  when 
there  was  the  greatest  crush  of  passengers  going  to  and  returning 
from  work. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  vestry  was  held  July  14,  1902,  at  which 
the  whole  subject  was  thoroughly  discussed.  The  sense  of  the  meet- 
ing was  that  the  proposed  arrangement  would  secure  the  church 
against  the  most  serious  effects  that  would  result  from  laying  the 
tracks.  It  was  felt  that  the  noise  of  the  cars  passing  around  the 
church  could  usually  be  kept  out  by  shutting  the  windows,  causing  no 
special  annoyance  at  week-day  services,  which  are  short  and  not  largely 
attended.  The  decision  was  that  it  would  be  better  to  make  the  Sun- 
day services  absolutely  safe  by  giving  the  church's  consent  to  the 
tracks  on  this  condition,  than  to  involve  the  church  in  a  long  and 
expensive  litigation.  The  committee  having  charge  of  the  matter  was 
therefore  instructed  to  make  an  agreement  with  the  railway  company 
on  the  general  lines  of  the  proposed  arrangement. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  253 

An  agreement  was  accordingly  executed  by  the  church  and  the 
International  Railway  Company,  July  26,  1902,  by  which  the  discon- 
tinuance of  the  injunction  action  was  provided  for,  and  the  church 
gave  its  consent  to  the  proposed  tracks.  In  return,  the  railway  com- 
pany, for  itself,  its  successors  and  assigns,  covenanted  that  so  long  as 
religious  services  shall  be  regularly  maintained  in  the  church  no  cars 
shall  be  run  on  Sunday  over  the  curve  from  Pearl  into  Erie  Street,  or 
over  the  track  in  Shelton  Square,  from  8  A.  M.  till  1.30  P.  M.,  and 
from  3  P.  M.  till  9.30  P.  M.,  except  that  during  July  and  August 
cars  may  be  run  continuously  after  1.30  P.  M.  The  agreement  fur- 
ther provides  that  in  case  of  any  change  in  the  hours  of  service,  the 
church  may  have  any  additional  services  protected  by  giving  written 
notice  of  the  fact. 

In  case  the  railway  company,  or  its  successors  or  assigns,  shall  vio- 
late the  agreement  by  running  cars  during  the  prohibited  hours,  then 
the  church  may  require  the  tracks  to  be  taken  up,  or  may  remove 
them  itself  at  the  railway  company's  expense,  and  all  the  rights  of  the 
company,  its  successors  and  assigns,  shall  thereupon  cease.  The 
agreement  was  prepared  by  the  attorneys  for  the  railway  company  and 
the  church,  and  the  binding  force  of  all  its  provisions  was  approved 
by  John  G.  Milburn,  who,  in  giving  this  opinion,  acted  for  both  parties, 
and  who  rendered  assistance  in  the  negotiations.  The  agreement  was 
delivered  to  Mr.  Milburn  to  hold  until  additional  consents  should  be 
secured.  When  the  railway  company  obtains  the  required  consents, 
the  agreement  then  goes  into  effect  at  once. 

The  injunction  suit  was  discontinued  by  an  order  of  court  on  July 
31,  1902,  and  thus  all  matters  in  dispute  were  finally  settled.  The 
entire  result  is  that  the  greater  part  of  a  serious  threatened  injury  to 
the  church  has  been  averted  without  expense  or  litigation  ;  while,  if 
the  arrangement  had  not  been  reached,  the  church  would  have  had  to 
wage  a  long  fight  in  the  courts,  taking  the  chance  of  having  the  tracks 
finally  laid  without  restrictions. 


254  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

The  original  deed  of  the  church  lot  from  the  Holland  Land  Com- 
pany, dated  June  14,  1820,  did  not  include  two  small  triangular  pieces 
of  land,  one  adjoining  the  church  lot  immediately  east  of  the  present 
chancel  and  extending  to  the  intersection  of  the  north  line  of  Erie 
Street  prolonged,  and  the  south  line  of  Church  Street  prolonged,  and 
the  other  triangle  being  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Pearl  and  Erie 
streets  and  adjoining  the  church  lot  at  or  near  the  great  tower. 

The  triangle  east  of  the  chancel  was  within  the  boundaries  of  Wil- 
link  Avenue  (now  Main  Street)  as  laid  out  at  the  time  of  the  original 
deed.  The  curve  in  Main  Street,  in  front  of  "the  churches,"  was 
straightened  later  (see  page  16  and  map,  also  pages  19,  174,  220),  and 
the  city,  when  it  acquired  title  to  the  street  by  condemnation  proceed- 
ings, took  only  the  land  within  the  present  lines  of  Main  Street.  This 
development  left  the  title  to  the  triangle  behind  the  chancel  in  the 
Holland  Land  Company  and  its  successors. 

No  reason  has  been  discovered  for  the  omission  from  the  original 
deed  of  the  triangle  at  Pearl  and  Erie  streets,  for  those  streets  were 
originally  laid  out  with  the  same  boundaries  that  they  have  to  day. 

When  the  present  fence  was  built  around  the  church  this  last 
triangle  and  a  portion  of  the  triangle  east  of  the  chancel  were  enclosed 
without  legal  right.  The  Farmers'  Loan  &  Trust  Company  of  New 
York  are  the  successors  of  the  Holland  Land  Company,  Franklin  D. 
Locke  of  Buffalo  being  one  of  the  directors.  Through  his  kindly  efforts 
and  personal  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  church,  the  matter  was 
brought  before  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Trust  Company,  and  on  his 
recommendation  they  gave  to  the  church  a  deed  conveying  the  two 
triangles,  and  also  all  rights  of  the  company  in  adjacent  streets,  for 
the  nominal  consideration  of  one  dollar.  This  deed  is  dated  April  23, 
1902,  and  was  delivered  to  the  church  in  July,  1902.  (See  page  262, 
and  plan  of  church  and  lot  in  1902,  facing  this  page.) 

At  the  next  meeting  of  the  vestry,  which  was  held  on  November 
6,  1902,  a  resolution  was  unanimously  adopted  thanking  the  Farmers' 
Loan  &  Trust  Company  for  its  gift,  and  another  resolution  was  alos 


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History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  255 

passed  expressing  the  sincere  gratitude  of  the  church  to  Mr.  Locke  for 
his  kind  and  successful  efforts  in  the  matter. 

On  August  7,  1902,  died  Thomas  Lothrop,  M.  D.,  for  many  years  a 
prominent  and  well-known  physician  of  the  city,  and  a  member  of 
St.  Paul's  Parish.  Dr.  Lothrop  was  born  in  Provincetown,  Massachu- 
setts, in  1836,  and  came  to  Buffalo  in  1859  ;  he  was  never  married. 
He  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  work  of  the  Church  Charity  Founda- 
tion, and  long  served  as  president  of  the  board  of  managers.  Dr. 
Lothrop  bequeathed  to  St.  Paul's  the  generous  sum  of  $5,000,  with  a 
request  that  it  "  be  added  to  and  form  part  of  the  Endowment  Fund  of 
said  church." 

The  broad  concrete  sidewalks  which  were  laid  in  1900,  on  the 
Church  Street  and  Shelton  Square  frontages  of  St.  Paul's,  had 
so  enhanced  the  appearance  of  the  property  that  the  desirability  of 
laying  similar  sidewalks  upon  the  Erie  and  Pearl  Street  frontages  was 
apparent  to  all.  In  August,  1902,  by  private  subscription,  this  work 
was  accomplished,  and  the  church  is  now  entirely  surrounded  by  broad 
stretches  of  concrete  extending  from  the  fence  line  to  the  curb.  A 
great  improvement  to  the  general  appearance  of  the  church  lot  has 
thus  been  effected,  now  that,  in  the  growth  of  the  city  and  the  daily 
passing  of  many  feet,  it  is  no  longer  possible  to  properly  preserve  the 
stretches  of  green  turf  which  in  earlier  days  filled  in  the  spaces 
between  the  old  stone  walks  and  the  roadways. 

On  October  1,  1902,  the  Rev.  Coleman  E.  Byram,  Ph.  D.,  curate  at 
St.  Paul's  since  November,  1899,  left  Buffalo  to  become  rector  of  St. 
James's  Church,  Pittsburg,  Pa.  His  faithful  work  in  the  parish  has 
gained  for  him  many  friends. 

October  i,  1902,  the  Rev.  Mark  H.  Milne  became  the  curate  of  St. 
Paul's. 

At  the  vestry  meeting  of  November  6,  1902,  the  rector  reported  the 
gift  of  $100  to  the  Endowment  Fund  from  Mrs.  Abbott,  in  memory 


256  History  of  St.  Paul 's  Church. 

of  her  husband,  the  late  Frank  W.  Abbott,  M.  D.,  for  many  years  a 
valued  member  of  the  parish.     Dr.  Abbott  died  April  9,  1901. 

At  this  meeting,  the  formal  vote  of  thanks  to  the  Farmers'  Loan 
and  Trust  Company,  and  to  Mr.  Locke,  referred  to  above,  was  adopted. 

The  additions  to  the  Endowment  Fund  in  1902,  up  to  November 
6th,  will  make  the  total  amount  about  $22,000.     (See  page  262.) 

December  1,  1902,  being  Monday  in  the  week  beginning  with  the 
First  Sunday  in  Advent,  the  annual  election  of  the  parish  was  held  in 
St.  Paul's  Church,  for  the  election  of  a  church  warden  for  two  years 
and  three  vestrymen  for  three  years  each.  The  rector  presided,  and 
the  following  persons  were  elected  :  A.  Porter  Thompson,  warden  ;  and 
Edmund  Hayes,  Hobart  Weed  and  James  Sweeney,  vestrymen.  Those 
holding  over  from  previous  elections  were  :  William  H.  Walker, 
warden  ;  and  Albert  J.  Barnard,  James  R.  Smith,  Sheldon  T.  Viele, 
Charles  R.  Wilson,  Dr.  M.  D.  Mann  and  John  R.  H.  Richmond,  vestry- 
men. 

I903. 

On  Sunday  evening,  January  4,  1903,  at  his  home  in  Buffalo,  died 
William  H.  Walker,  senior  warden  of  St.  Paul's. 

Mr.  Walker  was  born  in  Utica  in  1825.  Here  his  father,  the  late 
Stephen  Walker,  had  been  a  vestryman  in  Trinity  Church,  and  super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday  School.  The  family  removed  to  Buffalo  in 
1832,  and  immediately  became  members  of  St.  Paul's  Parish.  Stephen 
Walker  was  superintendent  of  St.  Paul's  Sunday  School  from  1833  for 
more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  was  a  member  of  St.  Paul's 
vestry  for  fifteen  years,  from  1837  to  1851.     (See  pages  95  and  96.) 

Coming  to  Buffalo  with  his  father,  mother  and  brother  when  he 
was  seven  years  old,  William  H.  Walker  had  grown  up  with  the  city 
and  with  St.  Paul's,  and  followed  the  example  of  his  father  in  his 
devoted  and  untiring  interest  in  the  work  and  progress  of  the  parish. 
At  the  time  the  Walker  family  came  to  Buffalo  (1832)  the  stage- 
coach and  the  Erie  Canal  were  the  principal  means  of  travel  between 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  257 

Buffalo  and  Utica.  Buffalo  was  incorporated  as  a  city  in  1832,  with  a 
population  of  10,000,  and,  while  flourishing  and  growing,  it  was  looked 
upon  as  a  frontier  "  western  "  town.  Dr.  Shelton  had  been  at  St. 
Paul's  only  three  years. 

The  public  school  system  had  not  then  been  established,  and 
William  H.  Walker  received  his  early  education  in  private  schools  and 
in  the  old  Buffalo  Academy.  He  also  studied  law  for  a  time  in  the 
Albany  Law  School,  but  decided,  when  he  was  eighteen,  to  follow  a 
business  career,  and  entered  the  employ  of  Orrin  P.  Ramsdell,  a  pioneer 
in  the  wholesale  shoe  business  in  Western  New  York.  In  1856, 
William  H.  Walker  was  admitted  to  a  partnership,  which  continued 
until  1876,  when  it  was  dissolved  and  Mr.  Walker  engaged  in  the  same 
business  for  himself.  The  house  which  he  thus  established  has  become 
one  of  the  largest  and  most  reliable  in  this  part  of  the  State. 

"In  the  business  community,  Mr.  Walker  stood  for  mercantile  success,  legitimate 
and  substantial,  based  on  fair  methods  and  wise  foresight,  and  in  the  world  of  finance, 
in  which  as  a  banker  he  played  a  part,  he  was  a  model  of  correct  dealing  and  wise 
conservatism."  .... 

He  was  interested  in  everything  that  would  further  the  progress 
and  welfare  of  the  city,  and  his  solidity  as  a  man  and  his  ability  as  a 
financier  carried  him  into  many  positions  of  responsibility  and  trust. 
He  was  always  interested  in  educational,  religious,  and  philanthropic 
institutions,  and  his  interest  manifested  itself  in  a  substantial  way,  by 
gifts  and  other  active  personal  support.  He  was  president  of  the 
Merchants'  Bank,  first  vice-president  of  the  Fidelity  Trust  Company,  a 
trustee  of  Hobart  College,  former  president  of  the  clearing-house, 
former  vice-president  of  the  Buffalo  Merchants'  Exchange,  vice- 
president  and,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  acting  president  of  the  Buffalo 
General  Hospital,  and  a  member  of  the  Buffalo  Club.  As  a  trustee  of 
Hobart  College,  he  did  much  for  that  institution.  Mr.  Walker  was  one 
of  the  directors  and  chief  supports  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association  in  this  city.  He  also  was  a  member  of  the  standing  com- 
mittee of  the  Diocese  of  Western  New  York,  continuously  from   1866, 


258  History  of  St.  Paul' 's  Church. 

and  active  in  the  Councils  of  the  diocese,  and  the  General  Conventions, 
and  a  life  member  of  the  Buffalo  Historical  Society. 

Mr.  Walker  was  actively  interested  in  parish  work  from  his  early 
years.  In  1846,  he  was  a  member  of  the  first  committee  appointed  to 
seat  strangers  in  church.  About  the  year  1847  was  formed  what  was 
then,  and  for  some  years  after,  popularly  known  as  the  "  Junior  Vestry," 
composed  of  four  young  men  of  the  parish,  Charles  W.  Evans, William  H. 
Walker,  George  C.  Webster  and  De  Witt  C.  Weed.  They  were  so  called 
from  their  active  interest  in  parish  affairs,  and  especially  in  advocating 
the  building  of  the  new  stone  edifice,  and  for  their  efforts  in  influencing 
subscriptions  to  the  building  fund.  These  four  young  men  started 
the  St.  Paul's  Building  Fund  Association,  October  24,  1847,  and  thus 
began  the  first  concerted  work  for  the  building  of  the  new  edifice,  and 
their  names  head  the  list  of  the  association  which  was  formed.  (Page 
58.)  The  "  Junior  Vestry  "  also  started  the  "  Chime  Fund  Association," 
in  September,  1850,  and  William  H.  Walker  was  the  first  secretary  and 
treasurer,  followed  later  by  Charles  W.  Evans.  William  H.  Walker 
was  first  elected  a  member  of  the  vestry  at  Easter,  1858,  and  was  a 
member  of  every  succeeding  vestry  until  his  death,  excepting  for  the 
year  1871.  He  was  thus  a  member  of  forty-five  vestries,  serving 
longer  than  any  other  member  since  the  foundation  of  St.  Paul's,  in  a 
parish  remarkable  for  the  long  terms  of  so  many  of  its  vestrymen.  At 
Easter,  1872,  he  was  elected  junior  warden,  followed  at  Easter,  1S73,  by 
the  late  Samuel  G.  Cornell.  At  Easter,  1874,  Mr.  Walker  was  again 
elected  junior  warden,  continuing  in  the  office  until  the  death  of  the 
senior  warden,  Charles  W.  Evans,  February  8,  1889.  Mr.  Walker 
succeeded  as  senior  warden,  and  was  retained  in  the  office  continuously 
until  his  own  death,  in  January,  1903.  During  all  of  these  years,  Mr. 
Walker's  devotion  to  the  interests  of  his  beloved  parish  never  flagged. 
He  was  always  ready  to  give  freely  both  of  advice  from  his  ripened 
business  judgment  and  of  financial  gifts  from  his  always  generous 
purse.  He  was  an  intimate  friend  of  the  late  Dr.  Shelton,  who  had 
for  him  the  greatest  affection  and  appreciation,  and  who  made  him, 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  259 

with  Charles  W.  Evans,  one  of  the  executors  of  his  estate.  All  of  the 
subsequent  rectors  of  St.  Paul's  have  likewise  found  Mr.  Walker  a 
tower  of  strength,  sustaining  them  as  he  did  in  all  of  the  enterprise 
and  good  work  of  the  parish,  both  with  judicious  and  wise  advice  and 
liberal  and  continuous  gifts.  In  the  vestry,  and  as  chairman  of  the 
finance  committee  for  many  years,  Mr.  Walker's  judgment  and  far- 
seeing  business  ability  were  relied  upon  by  all.  He  it  was,  too,  who 
presented  many  of  the  terse  and  gracefully  written  resolutions  and 
memorials  adopted  by  the  vestry.  For  this  difficult  form  of  composition 
he  seemed  to  have  a  special  gift.  He  was  a  constant  and  devout 
attendant  at  divine  service,  always  present  in  his  place  ;  a  strong 
churchman,  a  deeply  religious  man.  After  St.  Paul's  was  destroyed  by 
fire  in  1888,  Mr.  Walker  was  foremost  in  furthering  the  restoration  of 
the  edifice,  which  has  resulted  in  the  present  harmoniously  beautiful 
church.  He  was  a  member  of  the  building  committee,  and  one  of  the 
most  generous  contributors  to  the  building  fund.  This  was  likewise 
the  case  in  the  building  of  the  new  Parish  House,  on  the  site  of  the  old 
rectory,  and  in  the  purchase  of  the  present  rectory  in  Johnson's  Park. 

In  1869,  Mr.  Walker  was  married  to  Miss  Edith  Kimberly,  youngest 
daughter  of  the  late  John  L.  Kimberly,  and  a  life-long  member  of  St. 
Paul's.     Mrs.  Walker  died  December  6,  1893.     (See  pages  197,  19S.) 

Their  children,  all  of  whom  survive  their  parents,  are  John  Kim- 
berly Walker,  William  H.  Walker  and  Evelyn  Walker. 

"  The  plain  but  strong  old  Anglo-Saxon  word  'good'  applied  to  humanity  means 
'kind,  benevolent,  humane,  gracious,  propitious,  friendly.'  No  epitaph  more  fitting, 
more  expressive  could  be  written  for  the  late  William  H.  Walker.  He  closed  last 
evening  —  a  Sunday  evening,  marking  the  end  of  a  twelve  hours  that  he  invariably 
set  apart  for  religious  work  —  a  record  of  sixty  years'  service  rendered  in  Buffalo,  and, 
wherever  those  who  knew  him  are  talking  about  that  death,  the  inevitable  expression 
will  be  :  *  He  was  a  good  man.'  He  had  fought  a  good  fight  upon  every  line. "  .  .  .  . 
"In  every  relation  of  life  he  was  upright  and  just,  and  bore  himself  withal  so  kindly 
that  he  offended  none  and  made  the  example  of  a  good  life  attractive  ;  much  of  the 
good  he  helped  to  establish  lives  after  him."  ....  [Quotations  from  editorials  in 
Buffalo  papers.] 


260  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry  of  St.  Paul's,  held  at  the  Parish  House 
on  Monday,  January  5,  1803,  the  following  resolutions,  prepared  by 
Mr.  Viele,  on  the  death  of  the  senior  warden,  William  H.  Walker, 
were  unanimously  adopted  by  a  rising  vote,  and  directed  to  be  entered 
upon  the  minutes: 

MEMORIAL. 

William  Henry  Walker,  for  many  years  the  senior  warden  of  St.  Paul's  Church, 
entered  into  rest  January  4,  1903.  From  his  boyhood,  Mr.  Walker  was  a  consistent 
and  earnest  member  of  this  parish.  It  was  during  his  early  manhood  that  the  first  stone 
edifice  of  St.  Paul's  was  erected.  To  this  work  he  gave  energy  and  enthusiasm.  With 
three  other  young  men  he  formed  an  organization  which  was  known  as  the  "Junior 
Vestry. "  They  assisted  in  raising  funds,  and  in  arousing  the  spirit  of  the  people,  and 
co-operated  in  many  ways  in  the  work. 

He  later  became  a  vestryman,  then  junior  warden,  and  finally  senior  warden,  thus 
spending  his  entire  life  of  usefulness  in  the  active  service  of  our  parish.  During  this 
long  period  he  was  a  faithful  worker  and  a  consistent  and  liberal  contributor  to  all  the 
needs  of  the  church.  He  was  especially  interested  in  the  building  of  the  first  stone 
church,  in  the  reconstruction  of  that  beautiful  edifice  in  its  present  form,  after  the  fire, 
and  in  the  completion  of  the  buildings  of  the  parish  free  from  debt.  He  has  passed 
away  just  as  his  labors  in  this  direction  have  been  crowned  with  success.  He  has  left 
to  others  this  example  of  devotion  to  duty  as  an  incentive  to  the  perpetuation  of  the 
work  so  well  begun.  In  the  general  life  of  the  church,  Mr.  Walker  has  long  had  a 
large  and  honorable  place.  For  many  years  he  has  served  as  one  of  the  representatives 
of  this  parish  in  the  Annual  Council  of  the  Diocese,  and  for  more  than  thirty  years  has 
been  honored  by  the  diocese  with  a  place  on  the  Standing  Committee,  and  has  also 
several  times  been  elected  by  the  Diocesan  Council  as  one  of  its  lay  deputies  to  the 
General  Convention. 

The  vestry  part  from  their  leader  with  a  sense  of  almost  irreparable  loss.  The 
congregation  will  long  miss  his  accustomed  presence.  His  long  life  of  duty  well  done, 
of  consistent  loyalty  to  the  church,  of  broadening  charity  to  his  fellows,  will  ever  form 
one  of  the  blessed  memories  of  old  St.  Paul's. 

At  this  meeting  of  January  5th,  the  rector  presented  the  request  of 
Mrs.  Robert  Preston  Wilson,  Philip  S.  Smith  and  Charles  R.  Wilson 
for  permission  to  place  a  suitable  bronze  tablet  in  St.  Paul's  Church 
to  the  memory  of  the  Hon.  James  M.  Smith.  The  placing  of  the  tablet 
was  referred  to  the  committee  on  memorials. 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  261 

The  vestry  then  adjourned,  out  of  respect  to  Mr.  Walker's  memory. 

At  the  vestry  meeting  of  January  12,  1903,  the  rector  presiding, 
Charles  R.  Wilson,  vestryman,  was  unanimously  elected  by  the  vestry 
as  warden,  to  serve  out  the  unexpired  portion  of  the  late  Mr.  Walker's 
term  of  office.  Mr.  Wilson  became  the  junior  warden  of  the  parish, 
Mr.  Thompson  having  succeeded  Mr.  Walker  as  the  senior  warden. 
To  fill  the  vacancy  among  the  vestrymen  caused  by  the  election  of  Mr. 
Wilson  as  warden,  the  vestry  thereupon  elected  E.  Howard  Hutchinson 
for  Mr.  Wilson's  unexpired  term  as  vestryman. 

John  Kimberly  Walker  was  elected  clerk  of  the  vestry  for  the 
ensuing  year.  William  A.  Joyce,  the  efficient  treasurer  of  the  parish 
for  the  past  ten  years,  having  desired  to  be  relieved  from  the  duties  of 
the  office,  John  M.  Provoost  was  elected  treasurer  of  the  parish  for  the 
ensuing  year. 

The  thanks  of  the  vestry  were  voted  to  the  persons  who  have  con- 
tributed to  the  music  for  the  past  year. 

At  the  vestry  meeting  of  January  26,  1903,  the  following  resolution 
of  thanks  to  the  retiring  treasurer,  William  A.  Joyce,  was  adopted  and 
ordered  spread  upon  the  minutes : 

"Resolved,  That  the  vestry  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  recognizing  the  valuable  services 
rendered  by  Mr.  William  A.  Joyce  as  its  treasurer,  covering  a  long  period  of  years  ; 
and  being  deeply  sensible  of  the  large  measure  of  his  time  devoted  to  the  details  of 
that  office,  and  of  the  fidelity  and  business  ability  exercised  by  him  in  its  administration, 
now  wish  to  express  to  him  their  cordial  appreciation  of  his  devotion  to  the  interests  of 
the  parish,  and  thank  him  for  the  very  able  manner  in  which  he  has  discharged  the 
duties  as  such  treasurer." 

At  this  meeting,  also,  electric  lights  were  ordered  placed  in  the  main 
tower  of  the  church,  the  expense  to  be  paid  from  the  bell  fund. 

In  March,  1903,  Shelton  Square  was  widened  seven  feet  by  the 
straightening  of  the  line  of  the  adjoining  Main  Street  sidewalk.  The 
stone  posts  and  adjacent  raised  sidewalk,  popularly  known  as  the 
"  Island  of  Safety,"  between  Main  Street  and  Shelton  Square,  opposite 
the  head  of  Church  Street  (see  pages  219,  220),  were  moved  seven  feet 


262  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

towards  the  east,  to  bring  the  curb  at  this  point  into  line  with  the 
westerly  curb  of  Main  Street. 

The  street  railway  track,  which  had  been  the  subject  of  so  much 
controversy,  was  then  laid  in  Shelton  Square,  and  the  first  cars  passed 
over  it  on  Monday,  April  13th.     (See  pages  238,  251,  252,  253.) 

The  collections  at  St.  Paul's  on  Easter  Sunday,  April  12,  1903, 
increased  the  Endowment  Fund  by  over  sixteen  hundred  dollars. 
Fifty  dollars  of  this  was  an  addition  to  the  Frank  W.  Abbott  memorial 
gift. 

The  deed  of  the  triangles  of  land  given  to  the  church  in  1902  (see 
page  254)  was  recorded  in  the  Erie  County  Clerk's  office  on  April  16, 
1903,  in  Liber  956  of  Deeds,  at  page  497. 

This  record  ends  April  16,  1903. 


THE     RESTORED     ST.    PAUL'S,    FROM     THE     SITE     OF    THE     PRUDENTIAL     BUILDING. 

The  removal  of  the  old  dwellings  for  the  erection  of  the  present  Prudential  Building, 

southwest  corner  of  Church  and  Pearl  streets,  afforded  the  only  opportunity 

for  obtaining  a  photographic  view  of  St.  Paul's  from  this  point. 


Photograph  by  G.  II.  K  ,  March,  1895. 


Zhe  IRestoreo  St.  Paul's. 

Zlbe  flDemorials. 

TTbe  flv>p. 

Ube  Cbimes  of  St.  Paul's. 

XTbe  Great  Uower  ano  Spire. 

Ube  /IDusic,  1817*1903. 

Historical  IRotes,  1817*1003. 

Historical  Outline,  1817-1903. 

The  Seal  of  the  Corporation. 

First  Roman  Catholic  Mass  in  Buffalo. 

Notes  on  the  Early  Rectors. 

Extracts  from  Old  Letters. 

Major  Noah's  City. 

Accounts  and  Anecdotes  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton. 

Early  Years  of  the  Church  in  Buffalo. 

The  Bank  of  England  and  St.  Paul's. 

Account  of  the  Founding  of  a  Free  Church,  1849. 

Removal  of  the  Frame  Edifice. 

The  Numbering  of  the  Pearl  Street  Rectory. 

The  Wooden  Model  of  the  Church,  1850. 

Notes  on  the  Sunday  School. 

St.  Paul's  Guild  (contributed). 

Extracts  from  Minutes  of  the  Building  Committee,  1S8S-1S89. 

Xist  of  tbe  Cleros  of  St.  Paul's,  1817*1903. 
Xist  of  tbe  Westn?,  1817*1903. 
Ube  Hrcbitects  of  St.  Paul's. 
Subscription  Xists. 
flu  Conclusion. 


....    "The  Christian   Sanctuary  is  emphatically  the  sphere  of  the  Holy   Spirit's 

operation  on  the  hearts  and  minds  of  men 

"Here  He  strives  with  the  sinner  —  here  He  dweils  with  the  saint  —  here  He  regen- 
erates, sanctifies,  governs,    comforts,    commissions,    guides  and    blesses  the  ransomed 

children  of  men,  in  the  great  work  of  leading  them  through  the  trials  of  earth 

"  Such,  my  brethren,  are  the  characteristics  of  this  Holy  Temple,  now  consecrated  to 
God.  A  House  of  Prayer,  Praise,  Instruction,  Vows  and  Grace.  As  such  we  have 
now  set  it  apart  and  hallowed  it  as  God's.  As  such  may  we  ever  enter  it.  As  such 
may  it  ever  be  maintained.  As  such  may  the  Divine  Blessing  ever  rest  upon  it,  and  as 
such  may  it  prove  to  all  who  serve  and  worship  in  it,  the  vestibule  to  conduct  to  that 
Higher  Temple,  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  Heavens."  .... 

—  From  Bishop  DeLancey*s 
Sermon  at  the  Consecration 
of  St.  Paul's,  /Sjf. 


—"Dear  Cross!  bolo  fast  tbv.  beicibt  fit  air; 

Stano  ever  wioc,  blest  boor! 
Hno  ever  crowo,  ye  faitbful,  tbere, 

Ibfgb,  lowh?,  rfeb,  ano  poor! 
Sweet  bells!  rinci  ever  sour  <Uao  sound, 

"End  let  Its  message  be  — 
1bo!  vc  tbat  tbirst  — bere  Cbrist  is  founb, 

2lnb  bere  Ibis  borne  is  tree." 

—  JGisbop  Coie. 


The  Restored  St.  Paul's.  265 

ZTbe  tRestorefc  St.  Paul's. 

THE    RESTORED    CHURCH    WAS    OPENED    BY    BISHOP    COXE   WITH    A    SERVICE    OF    HAL- 
LOWING  AND    RECONCILING,  JANUARY    3,   189O.       (See   pages    182,   183.) 

As  has  been  said,  the  fire  of  May  10,  1888,  destroyed  the  entire 
interior  of  the  church,  with  its  columns,  roofs,  furniture  and  memorials. 
The  main  tower,  with  the  graceful  tapering  spire,  was  nearly  unharmed, 
as  was  the  smaller  tower,  but  the  upper  portions  of  the  walls  of  the 
edifice  were  badly  damaged,  and  had  to  be  rebuilt  in  many  places. 

The  plans  of  the  architect,  Robert  W.  Gibson  of  New  York  (archi- 
tect of  All  Saints'  Cathedral,  Albany),  were  accepted,  Cyrus  K.  Porter 
&  Son  of  Buffalo  acting  as  supervising  architects.  It  was  thought  best 
to  make  some  changes  in  the  plans  of  the  church,  as  originally  designed 
and  built  by  the  late  Richard  Upjohn,  Sr.  The  chancel  was  car- 
ried out  thirteen  feet  towards  the  east,  and  the  beautiful  stone  entrance 
porch  and  vestry  room  on  the  Church  Street  side  of  the  edifice  were 
added,  to  take  the  place  of  the  smaller  north  porch  and  vestry  room 
of  the  older  edifice.  In  the  old  church,  the  chancel  organ  was 
crowded  into  a  small  space  over  the  vestry  room.  In  the  new  church, 
a  much  larger  organ  chamber  was  formed  by  using,  in  addition,  the 
space  below,  formerly  occupied  by  the  old  vestry  room.  The  former 
Church  Street,  or  north,  porch,  with  the  room  over  it,  were  transformed 
into  the  baptistery  of  the  present  edifice.  Although  the  chancel  was 
extended  thirteen  feet  on  the  outside,  the  gain  in  length  on  the  inside 
is  about  fifteen  feet.  This  was  caused  partly  by  changes  made  in  the 
chancel  arch  —  the  jambs  of  which  are  now  nearly  flush  with  the  side 
walls  —  and  by  not  "furring  out"  the  inside  of  the  east  wall  of  the 
chancel  with  wood  as  heavily  as  in  the  old  church.  The  width  of  the 
chancel  is  also  increased  by  a  similar  treatment  of  the  inside  of  the 
walls,  and  the  gain,  both  in  size  and  appearance,  is  very  marked. 
Other  important  changes  were  also  made  which  will  be  noted  later. 

The  general  style  used  in  rebuilding  the  church  is  in  harmony  with 
the  Early  English  Gothic  of  the  twelfth  and  thirteenth  centuries  used 
in  the  original  edifice.     Many  of  the  features,  however,  especially  the 


266  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

great  east  window,  the  chancel  furniture,  pulpit,  etc.,  are  quite  properly 
of  later  date,  being  in  the  Decorated  Gothic  of  the  thirteenth  and 
fourteenth  centuries  ;  while  the  hammer-beam,  open-timbered  roof  is 
a  fine  example  of  the  beautiful  roofs  of  the  fourteenth  and  fifteenth 
centuries.  The  blending  of  the  old  and  new  work  is  skillfully  and  suc- 
cessfully carried  out,  and  the  general  effect  of  the  restoration  is  most 
harmonious  and  imposing.* 

The  Pillars. — The  north  and  south  aisles  are  divided  from  the  body 
of  the  nave  by  tall  clustered  pillars  of  brown  sandstone,  the  design 
being  a  square  central  shaft  surrounded  by  four  round,  engaged  col- 
umns ;  the  capitals  are  beautifully  carved  with  foliage  having  the  stiff 
stem  or  stalk  characteristic  of  the  Early  English  style.  The  bases  are 
moulded  and  much  stilted  —  the  plinths  being  raised  to  the  height  of 
the  pew  tops.  The  columns  supporting  the  transept  arches  are  of  sim- 
ilar design,  but  larger,  having  six  round,  engaged  shafts,  which,  at  the 
sides,  are  coupled  and  separated  by  fillets.  Half-pillars  or  responds 
are  built  into  the  walls  at  either  end.  These  stone  pillars  replace  the 
old  wooden  pillars,  which  were  destroyed  in  the  fire  of  1888,  but  are 
two  less  in  number,  owing  to  the  greater  width  of  the  transept  arches 
in  the  nave,  next  to  the  chancel,  in  the  new  plan.  (See  "-The  JVave," 
page  267.) 

Tall  pointed  arches  of  masonry,  richly  moulded  and  decorated  in 
gold  and  colors,  spring  from  the  stone  pillars. 

The  Clere-Story. — Above  the  arches  is  the  clerestory,  which  is  one 
of  the  most  striking  and  beautiful  features  of  the  new  building.  It 
has  sixteen  lancet-pointed  windows  on  either  side,  in  groups  of  four 
windows  above  each  bay.  The  clere-story  shows  what  is  known  as  a 
double  plane  of  ornament ;  the  arches  of  the  windows  in  the  stone  wall,  or 


*  For  description  of  the  original  frame  church,  see  page  16,  and  footnote,  page  32. 
For  the  article  published  in  the  "Gospel  Messenger  "  in  1851,  describing  the  stone 
edifice  as  it  was  then,  see  page  68.  For  a  later  description  of  the  church,  from  the 
"Church  Kalendar,"  1883,  see  page  141.  For  accounts  of  the  tower  and  spire,  see 
pages  108-110,  310,  311  and  314. 


The  Restored  St.  Paul's.  267 

outer  plane,  are  of  lancet  form,  while  the  inner  plane  of  ornament 
forms  a  range  of  pointed  trefoiled  arches  above  each  window,  sup- 
ported on  clustered  shafts. 

The  range  of  the  nave  arches  is  continued  by  blind  arches  on  both 
sides  of  the  west  bay,  which  is  mostly  occupied  by  the  west  gallery 
and  main  vestibule. 

The  Nave,  104  feet  long  inside,  including  the  main  vestibule  under 
the  west  gallery,  is  divided  into  five  bays  or  arched  divisions.  North  and 
South  Transepts  are  formed  by  making  the  bay  on  either  side  next  the 
chancel  thirty-four  feet  wide,  twice  the  width  of  the  other  bays,  which 
are  about  seventeen  feet  each  ;  the  arches  spanning  the  openings 
into  the  transepts  extend  nearly  up  to  the  top  of  the  clere-story  walls, 
and  the  north  and  south  walls  of  the  transepts  opposite  these  arches 
are  carried  up  in  tall  pointed  gables,  whose  sharply-pitched  roofs  inter- 
sect that  of  the  body  or  central  division  of  the  nave  at  right  angles. 
In  each  of  these  north  and  south  gables  is  a  circular  or  wheel  win- 
dow ;  another  of  these  windows  is  high  up  in  the  west  end  of  the 
church.  The  north  and  south  walls  of  the  transepts  are  flush  with 
those  of  the  north  and  south  aisles  of  the  nave. 

The  impressiveness  of  the  interior  of  the  church  is  greatly  enhanced 
by  the  increased  effect  of  breadth  and  height  given  by  these  wide  and 
lofty  transept  arches,  together  with  the  transept  gables  and  the  clere- 
story. These  changes  in  the  old  design  give  the  much-desired  Cruci- 
form effect  to  the  main  edifice,  whether  viewed  from  the  exterior  or 
interior. 

Jt  is  a  tribute  to  the  skill  of  Mr.  Gibson,  the  architect,  that  these 
successful  results  were  obtained  with  very  slight  alterations  in  the 
original  ground  plan  of  this  part  of  the  church  as  built  by  Mr.  Upjohn. 
A  comparison  of  the  ground  plans  of  the  church  before  the  fire  and 
as  rebuilt  gives  but  little  information  of  these  particular  changes,  suc- 
cessfully carried  out  in  the  superstructure,  after  the  fire  of  1888.  (See 
the  various  illustrations  and  plans  of  St.  Paul's  before  and  after  the 
fire,  in  this  volume.) 


268  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

The  Side  Aisles  (north  and  south)  occupy  three  bays  of  the  nave, 
and  are  each  fifty-one  feet  six  inches  long  ;  adding  the  transepts 
gives  a  length  of  eighty-five  feet  six  inches. 

It  should,  perhaps,  be  explained  here  that  the  terms  north  and  south 
aisles  are  used,  not  as  referring  to  the  alleys  between  the  pews,  com- 
monly called  "  aisles,"  but  in  their  architectural  meaning,  to  designate 
the  flat-roofed  divisions  of  the  edifice  on  either  side  of  the  central 
division,  or  body,  of  the  nave.  In  the  church  as  rebuilt,  these  aisles 
end  and  the  transepts  begin  at  the  columns  from  which  spring  the 
western  extremities  of  the  lofty  transept  arches,  and  above  these  col- 
umns it  will  be  noticed  that  the  flat  roofs  of  the  north  and  south  aisles 
meet  the  slanting  roofs  of  the  transept  gables.  The  body  of  the  nave 
extends  one  bay  to  the  west  beyond  the  side  aisles  ;  this  fifth  bay 
is  mostly  filled,  as  stated  above,  by  the  main  vestibule  and  west  gallery. 
On  each  side  of  the  main  vestibule  are  the  south  —  or  Erie  Street  — 
porch,  and  the  northwest  porch  leading  to  Pearl  Street.  The  small 
rooms  over  these  two  porches  connect  by  doorways  with  the  west  gal- 
lery, and  look  down  into  the  north  and  south  aisles  of  the  nave 
through  pointed  arched  openings  with  oak  balustrades,  similar  to  the 
oak  balustrade  which  extends  across  the  front  of  the  west  gallery. 
This  gallery  space,  formerly  occupied  as  the  organ  loft,  in  the  western 
end  of  the  nave,  and  which,  in  the  old  edifice,  extended  out  into  the 
church  to  afford  accommodation  for  the  famous  chorus-choir,  is  now  of 
less  depth  and  has  been  fitted  with  pews,  which  are  free.  The  space 
under  the  gallery  forms  the  main  vestibule,  and  is  separated  from  the 
nave  by  a  handsome  screen  of  oak  and  glass.  Immediately  under  the 
balustraded  openings  mentioned  above  are  deeply-recessed,  pointed- 
arched  niches,  which  in  former  years,  when  the  church  was  first  built, 
were  doorways  through  the  stone  walls  at  the  west  end  of  the  north 
and  south  aisles,  as  can  be  seen  in  the  picture  of  the  ruins  of  the  west- 
ern end  of  the  church,  and  the  185 1  plan,  opposite  pages  168,  84.  (See 
also  page  69  and  note,  and  pages  100,  101.) 

The  Lancet  Windows,  marking  the  first  period  of  the  Early  English 


The  Restored  St.  Paul's.  269 

style,  extend  along  the  south  aisle  and  in  the  wall  of  the  west  bay  of 
the  north  aisle  up  to  the  point  where  the  chapel  joins  ;  there  are  five 
of  these  windows  in  the  south  transept,  and  two  in  each  of  the  smaller 
bays. 

The  north  and  south  aisles  are  each  fifteen  feet  six  inches  wide, 
and  the  body,  or  central  division  of  the  nave,  is  thirty  feet  wide. 

The  entire  inside  width  of  the  nave,  including  the  north  and  south 
aisles,  is,  therefore,  sixty-one  feet  and,  adding  "  the  chapel,"  gives  a 
total  inside  width  to  the  church  of  ninety  feet.  The  greatest  outside 
length  of  the  edifice  is  190  feet,  and  the  greatest  outside  width  is  103 
feet,  including  the  buttresses. 

There  are  four  principal  entrances  to  the  church :  two  on  Pearl  Street, 
one  on  Erie  Street,  and  one  on  Church  Street,  the  latter  being  through 
the  handsome  stone  north  porch,  erected  since  the  fire.  This  porch 
has  a  floor  of  marble  mosaic,  and  contains  two  large  traceried 
windows  filled  with  stained  glass  —  one  opening  onto  Church  Street, 
and  the  other,  immediately  opposite,  lighting  the  baptistery.  The  ceil- 
ing is  of  paneled  wood.  The  doorway  leading  from  this  porch  into 
the  chapel  was,  in  the  old  church,  a  window,  in  front  of  which  the  font 
was  placed.  Under  this  porch  is  a  broad  entrance,  also  built  since 
the  fire,  leading  from  Church  Street  to  the  crypt  and  choir-rooms. 
The  main  entrance  to  the  Sunday  School  room  in  the  basement  is  on 
the  Pearl  Street  side,  and  to  the  left  of  this  is  another  entrance,  which 
now  leads  to  the  furnaces,  but  which,  in  former  years,  was  the  doorway 
to  the  receiving  vault. 

The  main  entrances  on  Pearl  Street,  to  the  west  end  of  the  nave, 
are  especially  massive,  the  stone  steps  leading  from  the  west  porch  and 
the  northwest  porch  curving  towards  each  other  to  meet  at  the  broad 
stone  platform  at  the  Pearl  Street  gate.  The  steps  and  platforms 
were  not  injured  in  the  fire  of  1888,  but  the  fine  arched  west  porch, 
with  its  stone-vaulted  ceiling,  was  badly  damaged  and  had  to  be  largely 
rebuilt.  In  the  north  wall  of  this  western  porch  is  a  narrow  lancet  win- 
dow filled  with  stained  glass.     The  original  glass  in  this  window,  which 


270  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

was  unfortunately  destroyed  in  the  fire  of  1888,  was  placed  there  by 
Dr.  Shelton,  as  a  memorial  to  his  personal  friend,  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Bowdler  of  Brompton,  London,  a  much-loved  clergyman  of  the  Church 
of  England,  a  prebendary  of  St.  Paul's  Cathedral,  London,  and  a  gen- 
erous contributor  to  the  fund  for  the  erection  of  this  porch.  (Page 
431.)  The  original  window  was  put  in  place  about  the  year  1856,  and 
was  inscribed  with  the  name  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bowdler,  who  died  in  1855. 

Above  the  gable  of  the  west  porch  is  the  flying  buttress,  which, 
although  just  under  the  "fire  mark"  on  the  main  tower,  was  fortu- 
nately not  injured  by  the  flames.  It  springs  from  the  corner  buttress  of 
the  porch  to  the  main  tower,  and,  according  to  tradition,  was  inserted 
in  the  original  design  by  the  architect,  Mr.  Upjohn,  at  the  request  of 
Dr.  Shelton.     It  was  not  in  the  preliminary  design.     (See  page  314.) 

The  south,  or  Erie  Street,  porch,  and  the  northwest  porch  leading  to 
Pearl  Street,  are  interesting  as  examples  of  the  ancient  two-story  stone 
porches  which  are  occasionally  met  with  in  the  old  churches  of  Eng- 
land, where  the  room  over  the  porch  was  used  for  the  safe- keeping  of 
records,  books,  wills  and  other  valuables.  In  the  older  edifice,  the  orig- 
inal Church  Street  porch,  which  has  now  been  transformed  into  the 
baptistery,  was  also  a  two-story  porch.  In  1879,  in  the  early  days  of 
the  vested  choir,  the  second  story  of  the  Church  Street  porch  was 
fitted  up  for  the  keeping  of  the  choir  vestments.  From  the  Erie  Street, 
or  south,  porch  a  stairway  leads  up,  through  the  small  room  over  the 
porch,  to  the  west  gallery,  formerly  the  loft  for  the  great  organ  and 
chorus-choir.  Under  this  stairway  is  another,  leading  down  to  the  Sun- 
day School  room  in  the  basement ;  and  at  the  west  end  of  the  porch  a 
door  opens  through  the  massive  stone  wall  into  the  tower  room,  from 
which  leads  the  winding  stairway  to  the  belfry  of  the  great  tower  and 
to  the  lofty  spire  above.  In  the  tower  room  is  a  large  oak  cabinet, 
fitted  with  folding  racks,  for  the  preservation  of  the  embroidered 
altar  cloths  of  the  church.  This  cabinet  was  given  by  Miss  Amelia 
Stevenson,  who  has  also  executed  much  of  the  elaborate  and  artistic 
needlework  on  the  altar  cloths  and  linen. 


The  Restored  St.  Paul's.  271 

There  is  a  private  entrance  for  the  clergy  directly  from  Church 
Street  into  the  beautiful  little  Vestry  Room,  which  has  been  built 
since  the  fire  and  which  adjoins  the  new  north  porch.  This  room  is 
12  x  16  feet  in  size,  and  the  walls  are  paneled  seven  feet  high  with 
antique  oak,  as  is  also  the  ceiling.  It  is  lighted  by  a  bay  window  of 
Gothic  design,  filled  with  stained  glass.  Doorways  open  from  this 
room  into  the  chancel,  and  into  a  winding  passage  behind  the  organ 
leading  to  the  church  through  the  baptistery. 

All  the  main  entrance  doors  of  the  church  are  double,  of  heavy, 
paneled,  oak,  and  are  all  hung  to  swing  outward. 

The  Roof  of  the  body  of  the  nave,  modeled  after  the  beautiful  ham- 
mer-beam roofs  of  the  fourteenth  and  fifteenth  centuries,  is  an  open- 
timbered  one  of  fine  design,  the  spandrels  filled  with  geometrical  pierced 
work.  It  is  of  spruce,  stained  and  finished  to  match  the  oak  wood- 
work. Spruce,  from  its  strength,  and  greater  lightness  than  oak,  is 
particularly  suitable  and  much  used  for  work  of  this  kind.  The  pen- 
dant posts  which,  with  the  curved  hammer-braces,  form  the  triangular 
supports  under  the  hammer-beams,  are  carried  on  slender  vaulting 
shafts,  rising  from  corbels  between  the  springings  of  the  arches  of  the 
nave,  excepting  over  the  points  of  the  transept  arches,  where  the 
hammer-beams  rest  directly  upon  corbels  of  carved  stone,  above  the 
apex  of  the  arches.  The  ends  of  the  hammer-beams  bear  the  carved 
and  gilded  figures  of  angels,  with  outstretched  wings. 

The  roof  is  sharply  pitched,  and  is  divided  into  six  bays  or  sec- 
tions, which  are  ceiled  with  narrow,  matched  boards,  and  paneled  in 
large  squares  by  the  heavy  longitudinal  beams  and  light  moulded 
cross-ribs.  At  the  top  of  the  walls,  between  the  hammer-beams,  is  a 
broad  band  of  wooden  panel-work,  forming  a  cornice  or  frieze,  and 
covering  the  open  space  behind.  The  spandrels  of  the  lofty  transept 
arches  are  decorated  with  symbols  of  the  four  evangelists,  in  colored 
fresco  work.  The  spandrels  of  the  arches  opening  from  the  body  of 
the  nave  into  the  side  aisles,  on  either  side,  are  decorated  with  medal- 
lion heads  of  the  Twelve  Apostles,  finely  executed  in  colors.     Above 


272  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

the  lofty  chancel  arch  is  a  fine  fresco  representing  a  group  of 
angels  in  adoration.  The  spandrels  of  the  blind  arches  in  the  west 
bay  of  the  nave  are  decorated  with  symbolic  designs. 

The  roofs  of  the  side  aisles  are  flat,  and  are  ceiled  with  narrow 
matched  boards,  in  antique  oak  finish,  divided  into  square  panels  by 
light  moulded  ribs  or  beams. 

Supporting  the  roofs  of  the  north  and  south  aisles,  at  right  angles 
to  the  body  of  the  nave,  are  pointed  arches  of  wood,  the  spandrels  of 
which  are  filled  with  pierced  timber  work  in  geometrical  design.  In 
the  north  aisle,  these  wooden  arches  spring  from  the  stone  pillars  of 
the  nave  and  chapel.  In  the  south  aisle,  they  spring  from  the  stone 
pillars  of  the  nave  and  from  carved  corbels  in  the  outer  wall.  They 
are  also  placed  against  the  walls  at  the  ends  of  each  aisle. 

The  roofs  of  the  transepts  are  in  antique  oak  finish,  ceiled  with 
narrow  matched  boards  ;  the  spaces  between  the  heavy  timbers  are 
divided  by  light  moulded  ribs,  or  beams,  into  square  panels  placed 
diagonally. 

The  inside  of  the  outer  wall  of  the  south  aisle  is  divided  into  large 
panels  placed  opposite  to  the  pillars  of  the  nave  and  ornamented  with 
nook  shafts.  Across  the  top  of  each  panel  runs  a  corbel  table  sup- 
porting the  timbers  of  the  roof  of  the  south  aisle. 

In  the  center  of  the  south  wall  of  the  south  transept  is  a  gabled 
niche,  ornamented  with  crockets  and  finial,  containing  the  marble  bust 
of  the  late  Sheldon  Thompson.     (See  page.  292.) 

The  width  of  the  middle  alley,  or  "aisle,"  between  the  pews,  in 
the  body  of  the  nave,  is  seven  feet  six  inches,  and  that  of  the  alleys  of 
the  north  and  south  aisles  is  four  feet  eight  inches. 

"  The  Chapel"  an  extensive  addition  to  the  main  edifice  on  the 
north  side,  is  fifty  feet  long  inside,  from  east  to  west,  and  twenty- 
eight  feet  six  inches  deep.  It  is  connected  with  the  main  body  of 
the  church  by  three  lofty  arches  of  masonry,  the  easterly  one  of  which 
opens  into  the  westerly  half  of  the  north  transept,  and  the  other  two 
into  the  north  aisle. 


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The  Restored  St.  Paul's.  273 

This  range  of  arches  is  continued  one  bay  towards  the  east  by  the 
archway  between  the  baptistery  and  the  north  transept,  and  one  bay 
towards  the  west  beyond  the  open  arches  by  an  arched  panel  in  the 
wall  of  the  north  aisle. 

The  arches  spring  from  brown  sandstone  clustered  pillars  of  the 
same  height  as  those  on  either  side  of  the  body  of  the  nave,  but  more 
slender.  These  pillars  are  about  seventeen  feet  apart  and  are  placed 
opposite  the  corresponding  pillars  of  the  nave,  and  carry  also  some  of 
the  wooden  arches  and  pierced  work  which  support  the  roof  of  the 
north  aisle.  The  seats  in  "  the  chapel  "  face  south,  being  at  right 
angles  with  the  pews  in  the  body  of  the  church,  and  rise  towards  the 
north  in  three  gradations  of  four  inches  each.  In  the  east  and  west 
ends  of  "the  chapel,"  high  in  the  wall,  are  large  stained-glass  win- 
dows. Under  the  western  one  of  these  is  a  window  which  is  interest- 
ing as  representing  one  of  the  first  forms  of  Early  English  "  plate  " 
tracery  —  pierced  through  a  plate  of  stone  —  which  in  the  later  forms 
of  Gothic  architecture  developed  into  the  elaborate  and  delicate 
"bar"  tracery. 

In  the  gable,  formed  in  the  center  of  the  north  side  of  "  the 
chapel,"  is  a  window  in  the  shape  of  a  spherical  triangle,  filled  with 
stained  glass,  immediately  above  the  beautiful  window  which  is  a 
memorial  to  the  late  Mrs.  Shelton.  (See  page  295.)  On  each  side  of 
this  last-named  window  are  two  tall  lancet  windows,  similar  to  those  in 
the  body  of  the  church. 

The  roof  of  "  the  chapel  "  is  an  open  timbered  one  of  similar  design 
to  that  in  the  nave,  but  on  a  smaller  scale,  and  is  broken  in  the  center 
by  a  north  gable.  In  the  east  wall  of  "  the  chapel  "  is  the  entrance 
door  from  the  Church  Street,  or  north,  porch,  and  to  the  north  of  this 
door  is  the  broad  stairway  leading  down  to  the  choir-rooms  and  the 
Sunday  School  room  and  chapel  in  the  basement  or  crypt. 

In  1851,  when  the  church  was  first  used,  "the  chapel"  was  divided 
into  a  lower  floor  and  a  gallery.  The  portion  below  the  gallery  was 
separated  from  the  body  of  the  church  by  a  glass  partition,  while  the 


274  History  of  St.  Paul's    Church. 

gallery  filled  the  entire  upper  portion,  and  opened  into  the  nave  by 
three  arches,  similar  in  size  to  the  present  arches.  The  seats  in  this 
gallery  faced  south,  towards  the  body  of  the  church,  and  were  at  right 
angles  to  it,  rising  on  a  slant  toward  the  north  wall  of  the  chapel.  In  the 
room  under  the  gallery,  the  pews  faced  towards  the  east.  In  1856,  the 
glass  partition  between  the  lower  floor  of  "  the  chapel  "  and  the  body  of 
the  church  was  taken  down,  and  in  1857,  the  gallery  above  was  removed, 
with  Mr.  Upjohn's  approval.  (See  page  84.)  The  peeling  off  of  the 
plaster  in  the  fire  of  1888  revealed  the  floor  line  of  this  old  gallery. 
(See  page  70  and  note  ;  also  photograph  of  ruins  facing  page  166.)  In 
1867,  at  Mr.  Upjohn's  suggestion,  all  those  pews  in  "  the  chapel  "  north 
of  its  south  aisle  were  changed  to  face  south.  After  the  fire,  this  aisle 
was  moved  south  to  the  pillars,  and  all  the  chapel  pews  now  face  south. 
This  portion  of  the  church  has  always  been  appropriately  known  by  the 
old  name,  although  its  use  as  a  separate  chapel  has  long  been  discon- 
tinued. The  term  is  also  in  harmony  with  its  architectural  design,  which 
is  that  of  a  side,  or  attached,  chapel,  and  not  a  transept.  In  Mr. 
Upjohn's  preliminary  design,  the  chapel  was  only  one-half  the  height 
finally  adopted.     (See  page  314.) 

The  Baptistery  is  at  the  north  end  of  the  north  transept,  and  opens 
into  it  through  a  large  moulded  archway,  which  is  a  continuation  of  the 
range  of  arches  between  the  main  edifice  and  "  the  chapel."  At  the  west 
end  of  the  baptistery  a  smaller  archway  leads  into  "  the  chapel  ";  in  the 
old  church,  this  opening  was  the  doorway  from  the  Church  Street  porch. 
The  baptistery  occupies  the  space  formerly  filled  by  the  old  Church  Street 
porch  and  the  room  over  it,  before  the  fire.  The  large,  traceried,  stained- 
glass  window  immediately  back  of  the  font  in  the  present  baptistery 
fills  the  space  once  occupied  by  the  outer  doorway  of  the  old  porch. 

The  baptistery  is  a  large  alcove,  containing  the   handsome  brown 

sandstone    font,    which    was    given    to    the    church    by  William    D. 

Collingwood.    (See  pages  181,  288,  394.)    The  walls  are  decorated  in 

colors  with  symbolic  designs  ;  around  the  top  is  a  frieze  with  the  words  : 

"  Be  baptized,  every  one  of  you,  in  the  Name  of  Jesus  Christ." 


The  Restored  St.  Paul's.  275 

A  door  in  the  east  wall  of  the  baptistery  leads  into  the  vestry  room 
through  a  winding  passage,  and  also  to  the  circular  stairway  of  the 
small  tower.  In  the  north  wall  is  the  traceried  window,  spoken  of 
above,  looking  into  the  north  porch,  and  also  four  smaller  windows. 

In  the  frame  church  the  font  was  near  the  chancel  rail.  When  the 
stone  church  was  consecrated  in  1851  this  old  font  stood  at  the  east  end 
of  the  nave  immediately  in  front  of  the  chancel,  and  a  little  to  the  north 
of  the  line  of  the  center  alley  or  "  aisle."  It  was  placed  on  the  floor  of 
the  nave  just  in  front,  or  west,  of  the  position  occupied  in  the  restored 
church  by  the  present  brass  lectern.  (See  pages  59,  70.)  When  the 
interior  of  the  church  was  decorated  and  the  chancel  refurnished  in  1867, 
the  font,  at  Mr.  Upjohn's  suggestion,  was  removed  to  a  platform  at  the 
east  end  of  the  chapel,  in  front  of  the  window  which  has  now  become 
the  entrance  from  the  chapel  to  the  new  north,  or  Church  Street,  porch. 

This  old  font  of  white  marble  was  destroyed  in  the  fire  of  1888. 
The  various  positions  of  the  font  are  shown  in  the  plans  and  illustrations 
opposite  pages  34,  84,  138,  154,  250,  272. 

The  Chancel. — The  chancel  is  divided  into  the  Choir  and  Sanctuary, 
and  opens  into  the  nave  through  a  lofty,  pointed  arch,  deeply  recessed 
and  moulded.  The  mouldings  of  the  inner  rim  of  the  chancel  arch 
are  carried  upon  small,  corbelled  shafts,  and  the  outer  mouldings  rest 
upon  small  shafts,  which,  in  turn,  rest  upon  slender  nook-shafts  recessed 
into  the  angles  of  the  flat,  pilaster- like  jambs  of  the  archway,  which 
project  only  five  inches  beyond  the  side  walls  of  the  chancel.  In 
this  way  the  space  between  the  jambs  of  the  arch  is  made  about 
four  feet  wider  than  in  the  chancel  archway  of  the  old  church.  The 
new  arch  is  also  considerably  higher  than  the  former  one. 

The  Choir  is  raised  three  steps  above  the  body  of  the  church,  the 
steps  being  of  red  and  white  mottled  Champlain  marble.  The  marble 
mosaic  floor  between  the  choir  stalls  is  in  a  geometrical  design  of  three 
large  quatrefoils,  with  borders  of  oak  leaves  and  acorns  ;  and  across 
the  entire  front  of  the  choir,  at  the  head  of  the  steps,  is  a  banded 
arabesque  design  of  passion-flowers.    At  the  foot  of  the  sanctuary  step 


276  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

the  mosaic  flooring  is  in  a  design  of  Greek  crosses  in  dull  red  on  a 
white  ground,  with  borders  of  oak  leaves  and  acorns. 

The  Sacrarium  or  Sanctuary,  to  the  east  of  the  choir,  is  raised 
above  it  one  step,  and  is  separated  from  it  by  an  altar  rail  of  brown 
Scotch  sandstone,  supported  by  eighteen  Gothic  shafts,  arranged  in 
six  groups  of  three  each  ;  the  rail  is  surmounted  by  a  coping  of  Cham- 
plain  marble.  This  altar  rail  was  a  part  of  the  gift  of  the  Shelton 
Society  in  memory  of  Dr.  Shelton.  The  floor  of  the  sanctuary,  also 
of  marble  mosaic,  is  a  beautiful  design  of  the  vine  and  grapes  ;  directly 
in  front  of  the  altar  a  quatrefoil  is  formed  with  symbols  of  the  four 
Evangelists  surrounding  a  Greek  cross.  The  flooring  of  the  entire 
chancel  is  of  marble  mosaic,  laid  in  cement.  It  was  made  in  Paris,  and 
is  said  to  consist  of  324,000  tiny  colored  cubes.  It  was  laid  by  Burke 
&  Company  of  New  York  and  Chicago. 

The  inner  roof  of  the  chancel  is  a  cylindrical-pointed  vault  of 
wood,  ceiled  with  narrow  matched  boards,  paneled  in  squares,  and 
divided  into  three  bays  or  sections  by  broad  transverse  arches  of 
masonry  with  moulded  edges,  which  are  carried  on  corbels  and  nook- 
shafts,  the  soffit  of  the  arch  being  decorated  with  colored  fresco-work. 
The  use  of  arches  of  masonry  to  support  a  vaulted  wooden  ceiling, — 
of  which  the  chancel  roof  is  an  example, —  is,  although  unusual,  more 
frequent  in  mediaeval  Gothic  work  than  is  generally  supposed. 

A  broad  wall  frieze,  under  the  ceiling,  surrounds  the  entire  chan- 
cel, decorated  with  frescoed  figures  of  angels.  The  chancel  is  twenty- 
five  feet  wide  and  forty-one  feet  deep  ;  twelve  feet  of  this  depth 
being  occupied  by  the  sanctuary  at  the  eastern  end,  inside  of  the 
altar  rail,  and  twenty-nine  feet  by  the  choir.  A  door  from  the  north 
side  of  the  choir  leads  into  the  vestry  room. 

The  organ,  which  is  a  three-manual  instrument  made  by 
E.  &  G.  G.  Hook  &  Hastings  of  Boston,  is  placed  in  the  organ 
chamber  immediately  to  the  north  of  the  chancel.  It  is  cased  in 
antique  oak  to  match  the  chancel  furniture.  There  is  a  swinging  choir- 
stall  doorway  to  the  organist's  seat,  which  is  directly  behind  the  choir 


The  Restored  St.  Paul's.  277 

stalls.  The  lofty  arched  openings  from  the  organ  chamber  into  the 
chancel,  and  into  the  transept  at  the  end  of  the  north  aisle,  are  filled 
with  speaking  pipes,  handsomely  decorated  in  colors  and  gold. 

The  sanctuary  is  approached  from  the  choir  by  one  step,  and  the 
altar  is  raised  three  steps  above  the  floor  of  the  sanctuary,  all  of 
the  steps  being  of  mottled  Champlain  marble. 

The  fireproof  features  of  the  new  edifice  are  the  concrete  floor, 
which  is  laid  on  brick  arches  supported  by  steel  beams  resting  on 
stone  piers,  and  the  lathing,  which  is  of  corrugated  iron. 

The  aisles  and  aisle  spaces  are  floored  with  end-wood  mosaic,  made 
in  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  composed  of  small  blocks  of  variegated  ash,  with 
a  border  of  darker  wood,  set  on  end,  and  joined  by  leaden  tongues, 
the  wood  being  highly  polished  and  showing  much  beauty  of  grain 
and  coloring. 

The  wall  decorations  are  by  Edward  J.  N.  Stent  of  New  York  ;  the 
dado  is  of  blocked  maroon,  with  a  border  of  peacock  blue  and  gold, 
above  which  is  the  terra-cotta  tinted  wall.  Medallions  and  sym- 
bolic designs  are  painted  at  intervals  on  the  walls,  and  the  full,  rich 
colors,  with  the  light  from  the  stained-glass  windows,  produce  a  verv 
beautiful  effect.  With  the  exception  of  the  memorial  windows,  which 
are  described  elsewhere,  the  stained  glass  of  the  church  was  furnished 
by  J.  &  R.  Lamb  of  New  York. 

The  church  is  lighted  by  incandescent  electric  lights  —  clusters  of 
lights  with  their  pear-shaped  globes  encircling  the  capitals  of  the  stone 
pillars  ;  in  the  chancel  are  convoluted  clusters  of  lights  on  either  side, 
resembling  bunches  of  most  brilliant  fruit. 

The  edifice  is  heated  by  three  hot-air  furnaces.  The  pews  and  all 
the  woodwork  of  the  church  are  of  antique  oak.  The  pew  ends  are 
slightly  pointed,  and  are  moulded  on  the  tops  and  sides.  They  are 
handsomely  paneled,  the  design  being  a  pointed  arch,  in  the  head  of 
which  is  a  large  quatrefoil,  bearing  in  the  center  a  small  metal  plate 
with  the  number  of  the  pew.     Below  are  two  small  sub-arches  resting 


278  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

on  semi-detached  shafts.  The  fronts  of  the  pews  facing  the  chancel, 
and  in  the  aisle  passages,  and  also  those  in  "  the  chapel  "  facing  the 
main  church,  are  panelled  in  an  arcaded  repetition  of  the  design  used 
for  the  pew  ends. 

In  1876,  in  January  and  February,  the  Sunday  School  room  in  the 
basement  of  the  church  was  renovated  and  refitted,  and  an  altar  and 
platform  were  built  against  the  north  wall.     (See  page  118.) 

Further  alterations  and  improvements  were  completed  in  1883. 
(See  pages  134,  359.) 

This  part  of  the  church  is  sometimes  spoken  of  as  the  "  crypt 
chapel."  The  altar  is  now  placed  against  the  east  wall.  The  reading- 
desk,  of  carved  black  walnut,  and  the  heavy  walnut  seats  at  either  side 
formed  at  one  time  part  of  the  chancel  furniture  of  the  church.  They 
were  in  the  "crypt  chapel"  at  the  time  of  the  fire,  and  were  not  de- 
stroyed, and  thus  form  a  link  between  the  old  church  and  the  present  one. 
The  altar  rail  in  this  chapel  is  similar  to  that  in  the  old  church.  After 
the  fire,  enough  of  the  original  altar  rail  of  the  church  was  found  to 
make  one  small  section  ;  the  remainder  of  the  rail  is  modern  and  was 
made  similar  to  the  section  saved.  The  spiral  uprights  of  gilded 
metal  supporting  the  rail  were  nearly  all  taken  from  the  old  chancel 
after  the  fire  ;  most  of  them  were  damaged  and  had  to  be  restored  in 
part,  and  one  or  two  of  them  are  new,  and  made  to  match  the  others. 
Near  the  altar  rail  is  a  black  walnut  font,  placed  there  in  1884  in 
memory  of  Mrs.  Shelton  ;  this  also  passed  through  the  fire  unharmed. 

(See  Memorials,  page  296.) 


Uhc  flDemorials. 

The  chancel,  with  its  altar,  reredos  and  windows,  is  designed  as  a 
memorial  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  William  Shelton,  and  of  his  long  and  faith- 
ful ministry  in  St.  Paul's.     (See  page  183.) 


3     H 

s  » 
=>  PI 

o    tfl 

!3 

rr  71 
n    pi 

§•  ° 
2.  ^ 
w  > 


The  Memorials.  279 

The  altar  and  the  reredos  were  the  gift  to  the  church,  in  1889, 
of  Mrs.  Agnes  Ethel  Tracy,  widow  of  Francis  W.  Tracy  who  died 
April  15,  1886.  They  were  designed  by  Robert  W.  Gibson,  the  archi- 
tect.    (See  page  395.) 

The  Altar  is  of  Mexican  onyx  from  the  quarry  of  La  Sorpresa,  the 
quality  of  the  onyx  used  being  of  unusual  beauty.  The  work  was 
executed  in  Buffalo  by  Lautz  &  Company.  The  front  is  an  arcaded 
design  of  seven  trefoil  arches,  supported  on  circular  semi-detached 
shafts,  with  carved  capitals  ;  very  little  other  carving  is  employed,  the 
beauty  of  the  whole  being  due  to  the  exquisite  finish  and  delicate 
coloring  and  markings  of  the  material  used,  and  the  severely  simple 
lines.  The  retable,  formed  of  plain  slabs  of  onyx  and  extending 
across  the  altar,  is  fifteen  inches  high  and  nine  and  one-half  Inches 
deep,  with  a  back-piece  twelve  inches  high.  Above  the  center  of  the 
retable  is  a  second  step, —  or  gradation, —  also  of  onyx,  fifteen  inches 
high,  and  two  feet  nine  inches  long,  with  a  deep  moulded  edge.  This 
forms  the  platform  upon  which  stands  the  altar  cross. 

The  Altar  Cross  is  of  elaborately-wrought  polished  brass.  In  the 
center  is  a  quartrefoil  containing  a  bas-relief  representation  of  the 
Agnus  Dei,  and  upon  each  of  the  arms  are  similar  quartrefoils,  bear- 
ing symbols  of  the  Four  Evangelists.  Three  of  these  quartrefoils 
form  the  terminations  of  the  three  upper  arms  of  the  cross.  The  fourth, 
upon  the  lower  arm,  is  placed  slightly  farther  away  from  the  center 
than  the  others,  and  the  arm  itself  extends  beyond  the  quartrefoil  and 
rises  from  a  moulded  pedestal  of  brass.  Upon  each  arm  is  the  word 
"Holy."  The  whole  is  supported  as  a  "  Calvary  Cross  "  upon  three 
brass  steps,  typifying  Faith,  Hope  and  Charity.  The  brass  base,  seven 
inches  deep,  below  these  steps  was  added  after  the  fire  to  raise  the 
cross  sufficiently  to  correspond  with  the  present  reredos.  The  entire 
height,  including  the  steps  and  extra  base,  is  five  feet  six  inches.  The 
cross  was  made  in  England  and  was  placed  on  the  altar  of  the  church 
about  the  year  1878.  It  was  the  gift  of  Mrs.  Gertrude  Squire  Talcott 
and  Miss  Tillinghast,  now  Mrs.  Peter  P.  Burtis.     This  cross  was  on 


280  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

the  altar  at  the  time  the  church  was  burned,  in  1888.  It  was  melted 
from  its  base  by  the  heat,  and  fell  between  the  ruined  altar  and  the 
stone  wall,  thus  being  preserved  from  entire  destruction.  When 
found,  after  the  ruins  had  cooled,  it  was  carried  to  the  Guild  House, 
and  later  was  renovated  and  restored  to  its  present  condition  by  Miss 
Agnes  Squier. 

The  Reredos  is  of  brown  Scotch  sandstone,  and  extends  the  full 
width  across  the  end  of  the  chancel,  against  the  wall  under  the  large 
east  window. 

The  upper  part  is  divided  into  three  sections  in  arcaded  design. 
In  the  center  rises  a  pediment,  under  which  is  a  broad  panel  filled  with 
finely-executed  glass  mosaic  work  in  colors  on  a  gold  ground,  repre- 
senting angels  in  adoration  on  either  side  of  the  cross,  which  appears 
in  a  burst  of  glory. 

The  trefoil  arch-heads  above  the  figures,  and  the  three  quatrefoils 
immediately  under  the  pediment,  are  filled  with  mosaic  in  convention- 
alized lily  patterns.  The  narrow  mosaic  panels  on  either  side  of  this 
center  panel  represent  a  vine,  and  the  trefoil  tops  are  filled  with 
designs  of  the  lily.  The  two  side  sections  of  the  reredos  are  similar 
in  design,  and  are  each  divided  into  a  broad  center  panel  with  two 
narrow  side  panels  ;  in  the  center  of  each  are  angel  figures  adoring, 
and  on  either  side  are  designs  of  pomegranates,  emblems  of  immor- 
tality ;  immediately  above  is  a  narrow  frieze  of  lilies  running 
across  the  three  panels ;  the  trefoil  points  above  the  frieze  are 
filled  with  flower  forms.  At  the  bottom  of  all  the  panels,  across  the 
entire  width  of  the  reredos,  runs  a  narrow  band  of  arabesque 
design. 

The  different  panels  of  the  reredos  are  separated  from  each  other 
by  slender,  semi-detached  shafts  with  carved  capitals,  supporting  nar- 
row, pointed  trefoil-headed,  arches,  all  carved  of  the  sandstone.  These 
narrow  trefoil  arches  extend  across  the  entire  upper  part  of  the  rere- 
dos, terminating  in  carved  pendants  where  the  shafts  are  omitted  to 
form  the  broader  panels.     The  panel   under  the  center  pediment  is 


The  Memorials.  281 

slightly  recessed,  the  slender  stone  shafts  on  each  side  are  coupled, 
and  the  open  stone  work  above,  under  the  pediment,  is  especially 
elaborate,  a  pointed  cinquefoil  arch  with  fleur-de-lis  cuspings  being 
superimposed  upon  a  tracery  of  three  quatrefoils,  while  below  these 
are  three  narrow,  pointed  trefoil  arches.  A  broad  panel  for  the 
mosaic  work  underneath  is  formed  by  omitting  in  the  design  the  two  nar- 
row center  shafts  of  stone  and  putting  carved  pendants  in  their  places, 
thus  throwing  the  three  narrow  panels  into  one  broad  panel.  In  the  two 
side  sections  of  the  reredos,  broad  panels  for  the  mosaic  are  formed 
by  throwing  two  of  the  narrow  panels  into  one,  in  a  similar 
manner. 

The  center  pediment  is  surmounted  by  a  finial,  and  up  each  side  of 
the  pediment  are  square-leaf  crockets  carved  in  stone.  These  are  con- 
tinued horizontally  as  a  cresting  along  the  top  of  the  cornice  of  the 
entire  reredos. 

At  each  end  of  the  reredos,  and  separating  the  middle  and  side  sec- 
tions, are  buttresses  of  stone  work,  with  gabled  heads,  surmounted  by 
tall  crocketed  pinnacles  elaborately  carved.  The  faces  of  these  but- 
tresses have  narrow  sunken  panels  with  trefoil  heads  springing  from 
long  slender  shafts. 

Immediately  under  the  arcade  work  and  mosaic  panels  of  the  rere- 
dos, and  separated  by  a  moulded  string-course  of  stone  (which  inter- 
sects with  the  onyx  shelf  upon  which  the  brass  altar  cross  stands),  is  a 
plain  band  of  stone  work  running  across  the  reredos,  on  each  side 
of  the  altar,  opposite  to  the  second  step  of  the  retable,  bearing  the 
carved  inscription  : 

"©lorv>  be  to  XLbee  ©  lore  /Iftoat  Ibicib," 

in  old  English  letters,  inlaid  in  gold  ;  below  this  text,  and  joining 
the  retable  on  either  side  of  the  altar,  is  a  banded  design  of  pointed 
trefoils,  seven  on  each  side,  carved  in  low  relief  in  the  stone,  repre- 
senting vines,  flower  and  leaf  forms.     Below  this,  on  the  south  side  of 


282  History  of  St.  Paul's  CJiurch. 

the  altar,  is  the  inscription,  cut  in  the  stone  of  the  reredos,  and  inlaid 
in  gold: 

"  REV.   WM.  SHELTON,   D.  D. 

Born  September  iith,  1798. 

Ordered  Deacon,  1823. 

Ordained  Priest,  1826. 

Rector  of  this  Church  from  1829. 

Died  October  ii,  1883. 

May  Light  perpetual  shine  upon  him.     Amen." 


And  opposite,  to  the  north  of  the  altar,  is  the  inscription 

"To  the  Glory  of  God,  and  in  Memory  of 

Rev.  William  Shelton,  D.  D., 

And  of  his  life-long  friendship  to  the  family  of 

my  husband,  Francis  W.  Tracy, 

This  Altar  is  erected  by  Agnes  E.  Tracy." 


At  the  bottom  of  the  reredos,  on  either  side  of  the  altar,  is  a  deep 
moulded  base. 

The  glass  mosaic  work  of  the  reredos  was  executed  abroad,  and 
was  furnished  and  put  in  place  by  Burke  &  Company  of  New  York 
and  Chicago,  and  the  stone  work  was  furnished  by  W.  D.  Collingwood 
of  Buffalo. 

The  entire  mosaic  work  of  the  reredos  is  of  great  beauty  and  high 
artistic  merit,  the  faces  of  the  kneeling  angel  figures  being  especially 
fine.  The  work  is  all  in  delicate  colors  on  a  dull  gold  ground,  and, 
being  made  of  tiny  cubes  of  glass  fitted  together,  has  a  peculiar  lumi- 
nous appearance,  which  is  rendered  more  striking  and  beautiful  by  the 
dull  brown  of  the  stone  work  surrounding  and  framing  it. 

The  large  East  Window,  which  in  the  old  church  was  a  lancet- 
triplet,  is  now  in  the  enlarged  chancel  a  single,  broad,  pointed-arched 
opening  with  geometric  stone  tracery.  The  stained  glass  in  this  win- 
dow,  which    is   also    a  memorial  to  the   Reverend    Dr.  Shelton,  was 


The  Memorials.  283 

designed  and  made  by  Holliday  &  Company  of  London,  and  cost  about 
$3,000.  The  glass  is  rich  in  color  and  the  design  is  elaborate  and  beau- 
tiful and  well  suited  to  the  intricate  stone  work  of  the  tracery.  The 
upper  part  of  the  stone  tracery  forms  four  quatrefoils  enclosed  in  a 
circle,  with  stained  glass  in  symbols  of  the  Four  Evangelists  ;  and 
angel  faces  and  figures  interwoven  with  flower  forms  fill  in  the  smaller 
spaces  of  the  stone  work.  Below  this,  the  window  is  divided  by  the 
tracery,  into  five  long,  pointed-arched  panels,  the  design  representing 
the  Ascension,  the  figure  of  Our  Lord  being  in  the  center  panel.  This 
panel  is  taller  than  the  side  panels  and  has  a  cinquefoil  head,  in  which  is 
the  descending  Dove,  and  the  text  from  St.  John,  xvi.,  7  :  "  If  I  go  not 
away,  the  Comforter  will  not  come  unto  you."  In  the  upper  part  of  the 
side  panels  are  the  adoring  figures  of  angels,  and  the  trefoil  heads  of 
these  panels  are  filled  with  flower  forms.  In  the  two  quatrefoils  of  the 
tracery,  immediately  above  the  side  panels,  are  angel  figures.  Below, 
grouped  across  the  base  of  the  entire  window,  and  filling  the  lower 
part  of  the  five  panels,  are  the  figures  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  and  the 
Eleven  Apostles  in  attitudes  of  wonder  and  adoration.  The  repre- 
sentation of  the  Virgin  Mother,  which  is  especially  lovely,  is  in  the 
center  one  of  the  lower  five  panels,  immediately  below  the  figure  of 
Our  Lord.  It  is  almost  hidden  by  the  pediment  of  the  reredos.  The 
robes  are  in  rich,  subdued  tones,  and  the  coloring  of  the  entire  window 
is  most  beautiful  and  harmonious. 

Worked  into  the  design  across  the  window  are  the  words,  from 
Acts  i.,  9  : 

"While  they  beheld,  He  was  taken  up  and  a  cloud  received  Him  out  of  their 
sight." 

On  the  slanting  sill  of  the  window,  immediately  below  the  glass, 
are  two  brass  tablets,  one  on  either  side  of  the  pediment  of  the  reredos. 
They  are  inscribed  as  follows  : 

4«  In  Memory  of  «f<  4*  This  window  is  •{« 

Rev.  William  Shelton,  D.  I).  erected  by  loving  friends. 


284  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

Owing  partly  to  their  slanting  position  and  partly  to  the  glow  of 
light  from  the  window,  these  tablets,  although  in  plain  sight,  would 
hardly  be  noticed  from  the  floor  of  the  chancel  or  church. 

This  window  replaces  the  original  Shelton  Memorial  East  Window, 
which,  in  the  old  church,  was  a  lancet-triplet,  a  tall  center  lancet 
between  two  smaller  ones,  and  which  was  paid  for  by  the  voluntary 
contributions  of  the  many  friends  of  Dr.  Shelton,  and  put  in  place 
in  1887,  being  unveiled  at  Easter  in  that  year.  The  window  is 
described  on  page  156,  and  is  shown  in  one  of  the  illustrations  in 
this  volume. 

This  original  window  was  destroyed  with  the  church  in  the  fire  of 
1888,  and  the  present  window  was  paid  for  with  the  insurance  money 
received. 

The  Chancel  Furniture  is  all  of  antique  oak,  and  designed  by  the 
architect,  Mr.  Gibson.  The  rows  of  stalls  on  either  side  of  the  chancel, 
against  the  north  and  south  walls,  have  elaborately  carved  canopies, 
or  tabernacles,  the  fronts  of  which  are  pointed  cinquefoil  arches, 
flanked  by  pendants,  with  finely  carved  lofty  pinnacles  above  ;  the  can- 
opies are  supported  by  slender  Gothic  shafts,  and  the  backs  of  the 
stalls  are  filled  with  fluted  panel-work,  in  a  design  giving  the  idea  of  an 
open  book.  The  woodwork  which  frames  these  panels  forms  a  double 
row  of  plain  crosses  ;  the  upper  row,  under  the  canopies,  are  Greek, 
and  the  lower  row  are  of  the  Latin  form.  In  front  of  the  stalls,  on 
either  side,  are  the  seats  and  prayer-desks  for  the  vested  choir,  which 
are  finished  with  handsomely  paneled,  high-pointed  ends,  terminating 
in  carved  poppy-heads.  The  fronts  of  the  prayer-desks  facing  the 
aisle  of  the  chancel  are  made  in  an  arcaded  design  of  open-work 
trefoil  arches,  resting  on  small  Gothic  shafts.  The  seats  face  each 
other  on  either  side  of  the  aisle  of  the  chancel,  and  rise  slightly  towards 
the  walls 

The  Sedi/ia,  or  seats,  in  the  sanctuary  are  of  similar  design, 
with  paneled  and  high-pointed  ends,  terminating  in  carved  poppy- 
heads. 


The  Memorials.  285 

The  Bishop's  Chair  is  similar  to  the  stalls,  but  more  elaborate  in 
design,  the  gabled  canopy  being  supported  upon  slender,  clustered 
shafts  at  each  of  the  four  corners,  and  having  single  shafts  between 
these  upon  each  side.  At  each  corner  of  the  canopy  are  slender  pin- 
nacles, and  the  front  and  side  gables  are  ornamented  with  crockets  and 
finials.  In  front  of  the  chair  and  connected  with  it  is  a  prayer-desk, 
handsomely  carved,  the  front  being  in  an  arcaded  design  of  trefoil 
arches.  The  chair  is  placed  against  the  wall  upon  the  south  side  of 
the  choir  portion  of  the  chancel,  between  the  stalls  and  the  altar  rail. 
This  position  —  while  perhaps  according  to  usage  in  the  great  choirs 
of  some  of  the  English  cathedrals,  in  which  the  congregation  occupy 
seats  during  the  service  —  is  a  somewhat  secluded  one  here  in  St.  Paul's, 
where  the  conditions  are  different.  In  the  church  before  the  fire  the 
bishop's  chair  was  placed  against  the  north  side  of  the  chancel  arch,  and 
faced  the  nave  diagonally.     (See  illustrations  opposite  pages  154,  156.) 

The  Credence  Table  is  of  brown  Scotch  sandstone  beautifully 
carved,  and  stands  against  the  south  wall  of  the  sanctuary.  The 
gabled  canopy  is  crocketed  and  topped  with  a  finial,  and  flanked  on 
either  side  with  crocketed  pinnacles,  and  the  line  of  the  coping  termi- 
nates in  foliated  carvings.  The  cinquefoil  arch  under  the  gable  is  en- 
riched with  foliated  cusps,  and  springs  from  small  circular  shafts.  Half- 
way down,  in  the  niche,  a  plain  stone  shelf  is  placed.  The  bottom  of 
the  niche  is  moulded  and  projects  in  a  half-circle,  and  the  rounded, 
bowl-shaped  surface  below  is  richly  carved  in  relief  with  representa- 
tions of  the  symbolic  wheat  and  grapes.  This  rests  upon  a  cluster  of 
three  small,  semi-detached  shafts,  and  angle-shafts  ornament  the  lower 
corners  of  the  table  on  either  side.  Although  the  rounded  portion  is 
not  hollowed  out  as  a  basin,  but  is  used  as  a  simple  shelf  for  the 
temporary  reception  of  the  sacramental  vessels,  the  credence  table  is 
otherwise  of  the  same  general  design  as  the  ancient  piscince  or  water- 
drains,  which,  in  the  mediaeval  churches,  were  used  by  the  priests  for 
the  rinsing  of  the  sacred  vessels,  the  bowl  being  drilled  at  the  bottom 
and  a  small  channel  or  drain  for  the  water  formed  through  the  stone- 


286  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

work  of  the  wall  to  the  outside  of  the  church.  The  credence  table 
was  the  gift  to  the  church  of  Mrs.  Josephine  B.  Dickson,  and  was  de- 
signed by  the  architect,  Mr.  Gibson. 

The  Pulpit  is  of  brown  Scotch  sandstone  ;  it  is  placed  in  the  nave, 
immediately  in  front  of  the  south  wall  of  the  chancel,  from  which  it  is 
reached  by  a  winding  flight  of  four  stone  steps. 

The  upper  portion  is  a  slightly  elongated  octagon  in  shape,  the  longer 
side  being  placed  towards  the  nave  ;  three  sides  of  the  octagon,  at  the 
back  of  the  pulpit,  are  omitted  —  one  at  the  junction  with  the  wall  of 
the  church,  and  two  to  form  the  entrance  from  the  chancel.  It  springs, 
by  a  series  of  corbel  mouldings,  from  a  stem  formed  of  clustered 
shafts,  semi-detached,  with  richly-carved  capitals  and  moulded  bases, 
and  alternating  large  and  small  around  an  octagonal  center-block. 
The  clustered  shafts  rest  upon  a  stone  plinth.  The  five  sides  of  the 
upper  portion  of  the  pulpit  are  beautifully  ornamented  with  cinquefoil- 
headed  panels,  ogee-pointed,  and  deeply  carved  in  the  stone,  and 
moulded.  The  spandrels  above  the  cinquefoils  are  filled  with  finely- 
carved  flower,  fruit  and  leaf  forms.  The  front,  or  center  panel  of  the 
five,  is  slightly  broader  than  the  others,  and  is  more  elaborately  orna- 
mented, two  narrow  trefoil-headed  panels  ending  in  finials  being  intro- 
duced on  either  side  of  the  cinquefoil  panel.  All  of  the  panel  work 
is  very  deeply  recessed.  At  the  outer  angles  of  the  octagon  are  semi- 
detached circular  shafts  with  carved  capitals  in  floriated  forms,  and 
with  moulded  bases.  The  hollow  cornice  moulding  under  the  broad 
stone  coping  of  the  pulpit  is  enriched  by  leaf  carvings  placed  at  inter- 
vals. The  flower  and  fruit  carvings  of  the  pulpit  are  treated  in  the 
naturalistic  manner,  characteristic  of  the  Decorated  period  of  Gothic, 
and  the  entire  work  is  very  admirably  executed,  from  the  designs  of 
Mr.  Gibson. 

Around  the  pulpit,  carved  in  relief  upon  the  beveled  top  of  the  base 
moulding  under  the  panels,  is  the  inscription  : 

"In  lovtna  /ifccmorv?  of  iRev.  Tiutllfam  Sbelton,  D.  2>., 
+    21.  5>.,  ISS9."    + 


The  Memorials.  287 

At  the  front  of  the   pulpit,  just  above  the  floor,  on  the  plinth,  is 
carved  : 

"  Erected  by  the  Shelton  Society." 


The  pulpit,  together  with  the  brass  sermon-rest  thereon,  and  also 
the  altar  rail,  which  is  of  Scotch  sandstone,  capped  with  Champlain 
marble,  and  corresponds  in  design  with  the  pulpit,  were  the  gift  of 
the  "Shelton  Society," — an  organization  of  the  younger  women  of 
the  parish. 

The  Eagle  Lectern,  of  polished  antique  brass,  is  seven  feet  high, 
and  stands  in  front  of  the  chancel,  on  the  north  side,  on  a  base  six 
inches  high,  of  the  red  and  white  Champlain  marble, —  this  base  being 
an  extension  of  the  first  of  the  three  steps  leading  from  the  floor  of 
the  church  into  the  chancel.  The  reader  stands  upon  a  platform,  also 
of  the  Champlain  marble,  two  steps  above  the  level  of  the  chancel  floor, 
and  five  steps  above  the  floor  of  the  nave. 

The  moulded  metal  base  of  the  lectern  is  cruciform.  From  the 
center  of  the  cross  a  large  central  shaft  rises,  octagonal  in  shape  and 
richly  moulded  and  paneled.  From  each  of  the  four  arms  of  the  cruci- 
form base, —  which  are  ornamented  with  floriated  scrolls, —  moulded 
octagonal  buttresses  rise,  surmounted  by  crocketed  finials.  Connecting 
the  buttresses  with  the  central  shaft  are  four  medallion  panels, 
each  in  the  form  of  a  floriated  square,  bearing  symbols  of  the  Four 
Evangelists.  Above  these  panels  —  like  flying  buttresses  —  ornamental 
scroll-work  connects  the  four  buttresses  with  the  central  shaft.  Surround- 
ing the  central  shaft,  above  the  scroll-work,  is  an  arcade  of  eight  tre- 
foiled  niches,  the  arches  resting  on  moulded  shafts.  Above  this  is  a 
band  of  quatrefoils,  surmounted  by  the  foliated,  octagonal  cap,  bear- 
ing a  crown  formed  of  an  interlacing  design  of  crosses  and  fleurs-de- 
lis,  in  which  rests  the  large  globe  representing  the  world.  Upon  this 
the  eagle  stands,  with  outstretched  wings  and  uplifted  head,  as  if  ready 
for  flight. 


288  History  of  St.  Paul's   Church. 

Encircling  the  globe  is  the  inscription  : 

"  ►£■         In  Memoriam         »|« 

CHARLES  WORTHINGTON  EVANS, 

Born,  March  13,  1812, 

Died,  February   8,  1889. 

For  twenty  five  years  one  of  the  Wardens  of  this  Parish." 

The  lectern  was  designed  and  made  by  J.  &  R.  Lamb,  of  New 
York  City,  and  is  a  memorial  to  the  late  Charles  W.  Evans,  the  gift  to  the 
church  of  his  wife  and  daughters.  (See  pages  172,  181.)  ....  "The 
eagle,  because  of  its  lofty  heavenward  flight,  is  the  symbol  of  inspira- 
tion, and  its  position  upon  the  globe  and  its  outspread  wings  remind 
us  how  the  Word  of  God  is  to  be  carried  into  all  the  world."  .... 

The  Font,  of  brown  Scotch  sandstone,  is  a  quatrefoil  bowl,  resting 
upon  a  square,  which  is  surrounded  by  eight  circular  stone  shafts,  with 
carved  capitals  and  moulded  bases.  Each  face  of  the  square  bears  a 
sunken  quatrefoil  panel.  The  whole  stands  upon  an  octagonal  base, 
and  was  designed  by  the  architect,  Mr.  Gibson. 

It  is  the  gift  to  the  church  of  William  D.  Collingwood,  and 
stands  in  the  baptistery,  being  approached  by  two  stone  steps  placed 
at  the  back.     (See  pages  274,  394.) 

The  inscription,  carved  in  raised  letters  on  the  stone,  is  near  the 
top  of  the  bowl  :  "  In  the  name  of  the  Father  and  of  the  Son  and  of 
the  Holy  Ghost.  Amen."  The  bowl  has  a  heavy  brass-mounted  oaken 
cover,  quatrefoil  in  shape. 

The  Ewer  is  of  polished,  engraved  brass,  and  is  inscribed : 

"  The  gift  of  those  baptized  in  St.  Paul's  Church."  Below  are  the 
words:     "Water  to  the  mystical  washing  away  of  sin." 

The  Litany  Desk,  at  the  head  of  the  main  aisle,  is  of  antique  oak, 
elaborately  and  beautifully  carved  ;  the  pointed  end  pieces  have  finials 
and  doubled  crockets.  At  each  corner  of  the  desk,  on  the  chancel 
side,  is  the  carved  figure  of  an  angel,  eighteen  inches  high,  standing 
under  a  Gothic  canopy,  and  between  the  two  figures  is  an  open  arcade 


The  Memorials.  289 

of  narrow,  pointed  trefoils  resting  on  slender  shafts.  The  desk  was 
the  gift  to  the  church  of  Charles  A.  Gould,  at  the  time  of  the  restor- 
ation (see  page  181.)  ....  "The  solemn  service  of  the  Litany  has 
been  said  from  very  early  times  from  the  Litany-desk,  placed  at  the 

head  of  the  nave,  before  the  entrance  to  the  chancel '  Let  the 

priests,  the  ministers  of  the  Lord,  weep  between  the  porch  and  the 
altar,  and  let  them  say,  Spare  Thy  people,  O  Lord.'  Joel  ii.,  17. 
Our  Litany,  retaining  the  same  words  of  supplication,  is  said,  in  allu- 
sion to  this,  in  the  midst  of  the  church."  .... 

On  the  desk  is  a  book  of  the  Litany,  bound  in  full  red  turkey 
morocco,  with  a  plain  brass  cross  on  the  front  cover,  and  "St.  Paul's 
Church  "  in  gold  letters.  On  the  reverse  is  the  inscription  :  "  Thank 
Offering,  Easter,  1890." 

The  Communion  Service  of  the  church  consists  of  a  large  silver 
flagon,  a  large  and  a  small  paten,  and  two  chalices.  To  these  have 
been  added  lately  two  cruets  of  glass  and  silver. 

The  older  pieces  are  of  heavy  silver,  of  graceful  design,  and,  with 
the  exception  of  narrow  ornamental  borders,  the  surfaces  are  plain  and 
polished,  the  inside  of  the  vessels  showing  the  tool  marks  of  the  workers. 
The  lid  of  the  flagon  is  topped  with  an  acorn.  Upon  the  flagon  and 
upon  the  smaller  paten  the  following  inscription  is  engraved  : 

"  PRESENTED    BY 

THE    EPISCOPAL    FEMALE    SOCIETY 

TO 

ST.    PAUL'S    CHURCH, 

Buffalo,   N.  Y., 
1825." 

Upon  each  of  the  two  chalices  is  engraved  : 

"  Presented  to  St.  Paul's  Church,  Buffalo, 
by  the  Female  Episcopal  Society,  1826." 

The  larger  paten  is  similar  in  design  to  the  smaller  one,  but  bears  no 
inscription.  It  was  doubtless  purchased  later,  as  it  became  needed  in 
the  growth  of  the  parish. 


290  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

The  society  mentioned  in  the  inscriptions  may  have  been  a  local 
organization,  or,  perhaps,  a  New  York  or  a  Philadelphia  society,  formed 
for  the  purpose  of  supplying  necessary  articles  to  young  and  struggling 
churches,  as  St.  Paul's  was  in  1825  and  1826.  In  spite  of  much  inves- 
tigation, no  record  has,  however,  been  found  of  the  society. 

The  two  cruets  are  alike  in  design,  and  are  of  glass  mounted  in 
silver,  the    covers   each    bearing   a   small    Greek    cross.     On    one  is 

inscribed  : 

'  St.  Paul's  Church. 
Presented  by  the  Sunday  School, 
Easter,  1891." 
Upon  the  other  cruet  is  engraved  : 

"St.  Paul's  Church. 

Presented  by  the  Ladies, 

Easter,   1891." 

The  Communion  Service  escaped  the  fire  of  1888,  being  at  the  time 
in  the  safe  at  the  Guild  House. 

The  Processional  Cross  is  the  gift  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Matthew  D. 
Mann,  in  memory  of  their  daughter  Helen.  It  is  of  richly-wrought 
polished  brass,  and  is  a  Latin  cross  with  quartrefoiled  ends,  bearing 
symbols  of  the  Four  Evangelists  ;  in  the  center  is  a  representation  of 
the  Agnus  Dei.  The  cross  is  mounted  on  an  oaken  staff,  and  when  not 
in  use  rests  in  brass  sockets  placed  to  receive  it,  upon  the  east  end  of 
one  of  the  choir  desks.  It  was  first  used  at  Easter,  1890,  as  was  also 
a  memorial  altar  cloth,  presented  by  Miss  Stevenson. 

The  inscription  reads  : 

"  •!•  To  the  Glory  of  God  and  in  Loving  Memory  of  Helen  Mann, 
Sep't  12,  1870,     >|«  Sei't  3,  1SS7    »{•" 

Altar  Vases. —  On  either  side  of  the  cross,  on  the  altar,  are  large 
brass  vases,  which  were  presented  to  the  church  by  the  women  of  what 
was  formerly  called  the  "ecclesiastical  committee." 

The  brass  Book-Rest  for  the  altar  is  ornamented  with  pierced  work 
and  an  engraved   panel  representing  the   pelican  and  her  young  —  a 


The  Memorials.  291 

symbol  of  the  Atonement.  It  was  presented  by  Mrs.  John  W.  Brown, 
wife  of  the  former  rector  of  the  church,  as  a  thank  offering  for  recov- 
ery from  a  severe  illness.  The  inscription  is  :  "  In  the  Name  of  the 
Father,  the  Son  and  the  Holy  Ghost.  Amen."  "St.  Paul's  Cathe- 
dral Church."  On  the  under  side  is  inscribed  :  "A  Thank  Offering, 
A.  D.  1888.     A.  G.  B." 

The  Alms  Basin  is  a  memorial  of  the  late  Mrs.  John  Pease,  who 
died  October  22,  1873.  It  was  the  gift  to  the  church  of  the  teachers 
and  scholars  of  the  Sunday  School,  and  is  of  polished  brass,  beauti- 
fully engraved.  The  text,  "  Blessed  is  the  man  that  provideth  for 
the  sick  and  needy,"  encircles  an  engraved,  conventionalized  figure  of 
St.  Paul.  Farther  down  is  the  inscription  :  "  In  Memoriam.  Sarah 
Eliza  Pease,  A.  D.  1874."  The  alms  basin  was  saved  in  the  fire  of 
1888,  being  in  the  vestry  room  when  the  fire  broke  out.  The  fire- 
men had  been  able  to  beat  back  the  flames  from  the  vestry  room,  so 
that  later  it  was  possible  for  some  of  the  choir  boys  to  enter  the 
room  by  the  window  and  save  several  articles.  Some  of  Dr.  Brown's 
vestments  were  saved  in  this  way,  and  the  alms  basin  also  was  carried 
out  through  the  window  and  taken  to  the  Guild  House,  blackened  by 
the  smoke  and  gas,  but  otherwise  uninjured. 

The  Chancel  Books. — The  set  of  seven  books  for  the  chancel,  con- 
sisting of  the  altar  service,  prayer  books  and  hymnals,  was  given 
by  Charles  Robert  Wilson,  in  memory  of  the  late  Robert  Preston 
Wilson.  They  are  bound  in  full  scarlet  turkey  morocco,  with  plain 
brass  crosses  on  the  front  covers,  and  lettered  :  "St.  Paul's  Church." 
On  the  reverse  of  each  volume  is  the  inscription:  "In  Memoriam, 
Robert  Preston  Wilson,  A.  D.  1892." 

The  gift  also  includes  an  oaken  chest  for  the  vestry  room  in  which 
the  books  may  be  properly  preserved. 

In  April,  1896,  a  baptismal  shell  and  eucharistic  spoon  were  pre- 
sented to  the  church  by  the  choir  boys,  as  a  memorial  to  Harold  J. 
McKenna,  formerly  a  member  of  the  choir. 

In  1898,  Mrs.  James  Sweeney  made  a  most  appropriate  memorial 
gift   to   the   parish.     In    loving   memory   of   her   daughter,  Kate    S. 


292  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

Harrower,  wife  of  H.  C.  Harrower,  who  died  in  October,  1895,  she 
presented  for  use  in  the  Communion  of  the  Sick,  a  complete  and 
beautiful  set  of  silver  communion  vessels,  with  altar  cross,  cruets,  and 
all  else  needed  for  a  reverent  celebration  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament. 

Among  the  memorials  in  the  church  must  also  be  recorded  the 
gifts  to  the  Shelton  Memorial  Endowment  Fund,  now  incorporated  in 
the  "Permanent  Endowment  Fund."     (See  pages  244,  245)  : 

June  1,  1897,  The  George  E.  Hayes  Memorial  Gift, $r,ooo.oo 

November  5,  1897,  The  Charlotte  Kimberly  Memorial  Gift 1,000.00 

December  30,  1897,  The  Jane  Wey  Grosvenor  Memorial  Gift,     ....  1,000.00 

1898,  Bequest  of  Miss  Elizabeth  Bull 475 -OO 

1899,  Bequest  of  Hon.  James  M.  Smith 3,000.00 

1899,  Special  Gift, 100.00 

1899,  Additional  for  the  "  George  E.  Hayes  Memorial," i.oco.co 

1900,  Bequest  of  Mrs.  Agnes  L.  Warren, 3.000.00 

1902,  Bequest  of  Dr.  Thomas  Lothrop 5,000.00 

1902,  The  Frank  W.  Abbott  Memorial  Gift, 100.00 

On  the  south  wall  of  the  south  transept,  in  a  gabled  niche  built 
for  the  purpose,  stands  the  marble  bust  of  Sheldon  Thompson,  one 
of  the  founders  of  the  parish,  presented  by  his  son,  A.  Porter  Thomp- 
son, and  his  daughters,  Mrs.  Warren  and  Mrs.  Viele,  in  1890,  to  replace 
the  one  destroyed  in  the  fire  of  1888,  and  which  had  been  placed  in 
the  church  in   the  year  1852.     The    inscription,   on  a   marble   tablet 

below  the  bust,  is  : 

"  In  Memory  of 

SHELDON    THOMPSON, 

July  2,  1785     *fr     March  13,  1851. 

One  of  the   Founders  of  the   Parish 

and  a  member  of  the  flrst  vestry. 


CATHARINE   THOMPSON, 
His  Wife, 
August  31,  1793    »f*     May  8>  1832." 

The  bust  is  a   finely-executed   portrait  in  white   marble,  and   was 
made  in  Italy.     (See  pages  64,  188.) 


The  Memorials.  293 

On  the  north  wall  of  "the  chapel  "  are  two  brass  tablets,  inscribed 
as  follows  : 

"JAMES   DANIELS   SHEPPARD. 
Born  in  Frome,  England,  January  16,  A.  D.,  1793. 

Died  in  Buffalo,  October  24,  A.  D. ,  1881. 

He  was  Organist  of  this  Church  for  more  than 

Twenty  Years.      He  bequeathed  by  his  last  Will  and 

Testament  to  the  Vestry  of  this  Church,  the  sum  of 

One  Thousand  Dollars,  to  be  held  in  trust,  the  interest 

TO    BE    PAID    BETWEEN    St.   THOMAS'S    DAY    AND    CHRISTMAS    DAY 

in  each  year,  to  not  less  than  ten  indigent 

persons  of  this  parish. 

'Blessed  is  the  man  that   provideth  for  the  sick  and  needy.'" 

(See  pages  154,  321, 324,  325.) 


The  second  of  the  two  tablets  is  inscribed  : 

"Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 

GEORGE   TRUSCOTT, 

Captain  Royal  Navy, 

Died  July  2,  1851,  aged  66  years, 

AND 

MARY,  his  Wife,  who  died  at  Toronto, 
July  16,  1837,  aged  37  years." 


Also  to  their  children  : 

WILLIAM    EDWARD,  Died  October  29,  1838,  aged  10  years. 

FRANCES   CHARLOTTE,  wife  of  W.  H.  Martin,   U.  S.  A., 

Died  October  24,  1841,  aged  22  years. 

ELIZA,  died  October  9,   1853,  aged  18  years. 


Their  remains  were  removed  to  Forest  Lawn  Cemetery. 


Also  to  GEORGE,  died  March  4,   1884,  aged  58  years. 
Eldest  son  of  George  and  Mary  Truscott." 


294  History  of  St.  Paul's  ChurcJi. 

In  the  east  wall  of  the  south  transept  of  the  church,  and  near  the 
pulpit,  is  the  Stevenson  memorial  window,  made  by  Louis  C.  Tiffany  of 
New  York,  and  very  beautiful  in  drawing  and  coloring,  representing  a 
procession  of  twelve  angelic  musicians  and  choristers.  It  replaces  the 
similar  one  destroyed  in  the  fire  of  May  10,  1888,  and  was  placed  here 
in  memory  of  the  wife  of  the  late  Edward  L.  Stevenson.  The  inscrip- 
tion is:  "In  Memoriam,  Amelia  S.  Stevenson."  Mrs.  Stevenson  died 
August  31,  1886.  The  original  window  was  given  in  1887,  and  the 
present  window  at  the  time  of  the  restoration  of  the  church  after  the 
fire. 

The  next  memorial  window  is  in  the  south  wall  of  the  south  tran- 
sept, the  second  window  from  the  east.  It  was  placed  here  in  Novem- 
ber, 1 89 1,  in  memory  of  the  late  Dr.  George  E.  Hayes,  and  was  made 
by  John  Hardman  &  Co.  of  London.  The  principal  portion  of  the 
design  portrays  the  Transfiguration  and  represents  Our  Lord  in  rai- 
ment ''white  and  glistering,"  with  Moses  and  Elias  on  either  side. 
Below,  in  the  foreground,  are  Peter,  James  and  John.  Above,  in  a 
smaller  panel,  are  the  three  Israelites  in  the  fiery  furnace,  with  the 
fourth  Person,  whose  form  is  described  in  Daniel  iii.,  25,  as  "like  the 
Son  of  God."     The  inscription  at  the  bottom  of  the  window  reads  : 

"GEORGE    EDWARD    HAYES, 

Born  November  7,  1804, 
Died  April  27,  1882." 

To  the  right  of  this  is  the  window  in  memory  of  the  late  General 
Scroggs.  It  represents  the  warlike  figure  of  Joshua  and  the  carrying 
of  the  Ark  of  the  Lord  around  the  City  of  Jericho,  and  replaces  a 
similar  one  destroyed  in  the  fire.  It  was  placed  in  the  church  in  18S9, 
during  the  restoration.     The  inscription  is : 

"  In  Memoriam, 
General   GUSTAVUS   A.    SCROGGS." 

General  Scroggs  died  January  24,  1887,  aged  66  years. 


The  Memorials.  295 

Both  windows  were  made  by  Hardman  &  Co.  G.  M.  Booth  of 
Buffalo,  who  put  the  glass  in  place,  had  finished  the  setting  of  the 
original  window  only  one  hour  before  the  fire  broke  out  which  destroyed 
it  with  the  church. 

The  next  window  to  the  right,  was  given  in  1893  by  Mrs.  James 
Sweeney,  in  memory  of  her  father  and  mother.  The  inscription  is  : 
"  In  loving  memory  of  John  Scott  Ganson  and  his  wife  Sophronia 
Ballard,"  lettered  on  a  scroll,  borne  by  two  angel  figures. 

Mr.  Ganson  died  August  30,  1875  ;  Mrs.  Ganson  died  September 
23,   1881. 

The  window  is  the  work  of  Mayer  &  Company  of  Munich. 
Above  is  a  panel  representing  the  raising  from  the  dead,  by  Elijah,  of 
the  widow's  son,  and  below  the  design  shows  the  raising  of  the 
daughter  of  Jairus,  the  promise  of  the  Resurrection  as  shadowed 
forth  in  the  Old  Testament  and  in  the  New.  At  the  top  of  the  win- 
dow an  angel  figure  holds  a  scroll,  with  the  words  "  Holy,  Holy,  Holy." 

The  large  window  in  the  north  wall  of  the  addition  to  the  main 
edifice,  called  "The  Chapel,"  is  a  memorial  to  Mrs.  Lucretia  Stan- 
ley Shelton,  the  universally  beloved  wife  of  Dr.  Shelton.  This 
window  was  placed  in  the  church  in  October,  1889,  in  part  by  Mrs. 
Seth  H.  Grosvenor  (a  niece  of  Mrs.  Shelton)  and  her  children,  and  in 
part  by  the  use  of  the  bequest  made  by  Dr.  Shelton  for  a  memorial 
in  St.  Paul's  to  his  wife.  (See  pages  149,  150.)  The  executors  of  Dr. 
Shelton's  will  originally  intended,  before  the  burning  of  the  church,  to 
pay  the  amount  of  this  bequest  towards  the  proposed  new  altar,  but 
the  fire  caused  them  to  change  their  plans  in  this  respect,  and  it  was 
decided  to  join  with  Mrs.  Grosvenor  and  her  children  in  this  most 
appropriate  memorial.  The  window  was  executed  by  John  Hardman 
&  Co.  of  London,  England,  and  in  conception,  drawing,  and  color- 
ing is  very  beautiful.  "  The  artist  has  seized  upon  that  most  pathetic 
incident  in  the  life  of  St.  Paul,  when,  by  the  seashore  at  Miletus,  he  is 
bidding  the  Elders  of  Ephesus  farewell,  at  which  time  we  read  :  '  They 
all  wept  sore,  and  fell  on  Paul's  neck,  and  kissed  him,  sorrowing  most 


296  History  of  St.  Paul 's  Church. 

of  all  for  the  words  which  he  spake,  that  they  should  see  his  face  no 
more.  And  they  accompanied  him  unto  the  ship.'  This  scene  is 
described  in  the  twentieth  chapter  of  the  Acts,  from  the  seventeeth 
verse  to  the  end."  ....  The  inscription  reads: 

"  To  the  Glory  of  God,  and  in  Loving  Memory  of 

LUCRETIA  STANLEY  SHELTON, 

Born  July  21,  1798, 

Died  September  6,  1882." 

A  large  room  in  the  basement  of  the  church  is  fitted  up  as  a  chapel, 
sometimes  called  the  "  Crypt  Chapel,"  and  is  used  for  the  sessions  of 
the  Sunday  School.     A  small  altar  is  placed  here,  a  lectern,  seats,  etc. 

In  the  crypt  chapel  is  a  memorial  font  of  carved  black  walnut, 
with  a  brass-mounted  cover.     On  the  hexagonal  base  is  the  inscription  : 

In  Memory  of 

LUCRETIA   STANLEY  SHELTON, 

A.  D.  1884. 

From  the  base  rises  a  stem  of  clustered  shafts  with  carved  brack- 
ets supporting  the  six-sided  upper  part  of  the  font,  which  has  quartre- 
foil  panels  inlaid  in  each  side.  Above,  around  the  margin  of  the 
moulded  top  which  frames  the  bowl,  are  carved  the  words  :  "  One 
Lord  —  one  Faith  —  one  Baptism."  This  memorial  was  the  gift  to  the 
church  of  Miss  Elizabeth  A.  McKee,  Easter,  1884. 

It  was  in  the  crypt  during  the  fire  of  1888,  and  is  one  of  the  few 
memorials  not  destroyed  at  that  time. 

On  the  altar  in  the  crypt  chapel  is  a  brass  altar  cross,  on  the  back 
of  which  are  engraved  simply  the  words,  "  In  Memoriam."  It  was 
given  at  Easter,  1872,  by  Mrs.  Charlotte  A.  Brace,  widow  of  Curtis  L. 
Brace,  in  memory  of  her  only  son,  Frederick  Gelston  Brace,  who  died 
February  12,  1872,  in  his  twenty-first  year.  He  was,  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  treasurer  of  the  Sunday  School,  and  was  a  grandson  of  Lester 
Brace,  for  many  years  a  warden  and  vestryman  of  St.  Paul's.  The 
cross  was  in  this  chapel  at  the  time  of  the  fire. 


The  Memorials.  297 

The  Bible  on  the  lectern  also  passed  through  the  fire  of  1888,  and 
was  much  damaged  by  water.  The  inscription  on  the  cover  is,  "  Pre- 
sented by  Henry  C.  and  Sarah  L.  Squier  to  St.  Paul's  Chapel."  It 
was  given  about  the  year  1876. 

A  memorial  in  this  part  of  the  church  edifice  is  that  to  the  two  sons 
of  the  late  Horatio  and  Elizabeth  Staats  Seymour,  which  memorial 
consists  of  the  first  two  windows  on  the  Erie  Street  side  of  the  base- 
ment, with  a  brass  tablet  between.  On  the  tablet  is  the  following 
inscription  : 

"In  pursuance   of  the  will  of 

Mrs.    Elizabeth    Staats    Seymour, 

their  mother.  these  windows 

have  been  placed 

In  Memory  of 

Horatio  Schuyler  Seymour 

AND 

Barent  Staats  Seymour, 
A.  D.,  1884." 

The  amount  left  to  the  church  in  Mrs.  Seymour's  will  was  $500, 
part  of  which  was  used  by  the  vestry  towards,  enlarging  and  refitting 
the  Sunday  School  room.     (See  page  133.) 

These  windows  were  not  injured  in  the  fire  of  1888. 

Immediately  to  the  right  of  the  Seymour  memorial  windows  is  a 
window  filled  with  old-fashioned  stained  glass,  the  design  being  a 
cross  in  a  red  medallion  above,  and  in  a  foiled,  oblong  panel  below 
is  the  inscription  :  "  Out  of  the  mouths  of  babes  and  sucklings  Thou 
hast  perfected  praise."  This  is  a  part  of  the  stained  glass  which  was 
formerly  set  in  the  window  next  to  the  pulpit,  now  occupied  by  the 
Stevenson  memorial,  where  it  was  originally  placed  soon  after  the 
building  of  the  stone  church,  having  been  purchased  with  money  con- 
tributed for  the  purpose  by  the  children  of  the  Sunday  School.  The 
original  window  was  over  twice  the  length  of  the  fragment  now  pre- 
served here,  and  is  shown  entire,  near  the  pulpit,  in  the  photograph 


298  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

of  the  interior  of  the  church  taken  in  1884,  reproduced  in  this 
volume.  It  was  removed  about  1887  to  make  way  for  the  first  Steven- 
son memorial  window,  and  the  glass  was  reset  and  used  to  fill  two  of 
the  windows  in  the  basement  Sunday  School  room.  One  of  these  two 
windows  was  destroyed  by  the  fire  of  188S,  but  the  other  was  un- 
harmed. 

ZTbe  1Iy>£. 

Those  who  knew  and  loved  the  old  church  missed,  after  the  fire, 
the  beautiful  mantling  ivy  which,  before,  had  almost  completely  covered 
its  walls,  and  which  formed  the  home  of  great  numbers  of  English 
sparrows.  This  ivy  was  originally  brought  by  Dr.  Shelton  from  West- 
minster Abbey,  on  his  return  from  his  second  visit  to  England  in  1865. 
These  vines  were  killed  by  the  fire  of  1888,  and  the  sparrows  have 
disappeared.  Ivy  plants  (Ampe/opsis  Veitchii)  were  set  out  in  the 
spring  of  1894,  at  short  distances,  all  around  the  edifice.  The  plants 
were  the  gift  of  Philip  S.  Smith  and  Charles  R.  Wilson.  The  ivy  grows 
very  rapidly,  and  the  passing  of  only  a  few  years  has  been  necessary 
to  cover  again  the  stone  walls  with  a  fresh  green  veil. 

The  progenitors  of  the  sparrows  in  the  old  ivy  vines  were  sent  from 
England  to  Dr.  Shelton  on  his  return  from  his  visit  there  in  1865,  and 
were  watched  over  by  him  with  the  greatest  care  and  pleasure,  as  he 
walked  from  his  home  in  the  rectory  on  Pearl  Street  and  around  the 
enclosure  of  the  church  he  loved  so  well,  often  stopping  to  feed  the 
birds  with  his  own  hand.  Their  twitterings  around  the  old  east  window, 
during  service  time,  softened  a  little  by  the  distance  and  the  thickness 
of  the  stone  walls,  always  suggested  the  words  from  the  Psalter  : 

"Yea,  the  sparrow  hath  found  her  an  house,  and  the  swallow  a  nest,  where  she 
may  lay  her  young  ;  even  Thy  altars,  O  Lord  of  Hosts,  my  King  and  my  God." 

For  some  unknown  reason  the  doves,  too,  are  gone,  which  circled  so 
gracefully  about  the  pinnacles  of  the  old  church.  They  made  their 
homes  year  after  year  in  the  belfry  and  in  the  unused  clock-niches  of 
the  great  tower  —  niches  where  they  reigned  supreme,  for  the  turning 


THE    RESTORED    ST.   PAUL'S. 
From  northwest  corner  Pearl  and  Church  streets. 


Photograph  by  G.  H.  B.,  April, 


The  Chimes  of  St.  Paul's.  299 

wheels  and  pointing  hands,  measuring  the  procession  of  the  hours, 
never  came  to  dispossess  them. 

The  elm  which  had  stood  for  sixty  years  inside  the  church  fence,  at 
the  corner  of  Pearl  and  Erie  streets — long  leafless  —  was  cut  down 
August  12,  1902.  The  last  of  the  other  shade  trees,  which  in  old  days 
surrounded  the  church,  were  destroyed  by  the  fire. 


Uhe  Cbimes  ot  St.  Paul's. 

"Where  ring  old  bells  eternally, 
For  prayer  incessant  made." 

The  Chime  Fund  Association  was  formed  by  a  number  of  the 
younger  members  of  the  parish,  in  the  year  1850,  for  the  purpose  of 
raising  subscriptions  for  the  bells  to  be  placed  in  the  tower  of  the  new 
church  edifice. 

According  to  the  original  book  of  the  minutes  of  the  meetings  of  this 
association,  the  first  meeting  for  consultation  was  held  in  September, 
1850  ;  there  were  present  Charles  W.  Evans,  George  C.  Webster,  DeWitt 
C.Weed  and  William  H.Walker.  The  next  week  a  more  general  meeting 
was  called  for  the  election  of  officers,  and  Mr. Walker  presented  a  form  of 
constitution,  which  was  adopted.  The  officers  chosen  were  :  President, 
Edward  S.  Warren  ;  first  vice-president,  Amos  I.  Mathews  ;  second 
vice-president,  William  B.  Rochester  ;  secretary  and  treasurer,  William 
H.  Walker.  Any  person  might  become  a  member  of  the  association  on 
payment  of  $5,  and  signing  an  agreement  to  pay  the  sum  of  $5  semi- 
annually thereafter,  until  the  necessary  amount  should  be  raised. 

On  October  20,  1853,  the  treasurer  reported  a  balance  to  the  credit 
of  the  fund  of  $1,056.76,  from  dues,  subscriptions  and  various  sources  ; 
and  Mr.  Walker  having  resigned  as  treasurer,  Charles  W.  Evans  was 
chosen  in  his  place.  In  February,  1854,  the  treasurer  reports 
$1,223.43,  and  on  June  25,  1856,  he  reports  $2,184.20;  also  that  the 
"  young  ladies  of  the  parish  have  within  the  past  month  formed  a 
young  ladies'  society  to  aid  the  Chime  Fund,  and  propose  holding  a  fair 


300  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

next  December  for  that  purpose.  It  is  expected  that  the  tower  will  be 
ready  to  receive  the  chime  of  bells  by  next  October,  and  it  is  recom- 
mended that  measures  be  taken  to  contract  for  the  chime  at  an  early 
day."     A  committee  was  accordingly  formed  for  that  purpose. 

On  August  27,  1856,  the  committee  reported  a  proposition  from  A. 
Meneely's  Sons,  of  the  West  Troy  Bell  Foundry,  to  furnish  nine  bells, 
as  per  schedule  of  weights,  "together  with  a  suitable  oak  frame  and 
'  rotating  yokes '  and  all  other  fixtures  requisite  for  ringing  said  bells 
either  by  one  person  or  by  eight."  They  were  to  be  allowed  a  margin 
of  150  pounds  either  above  or  below  the  aggregate  given  in  schedule, 
for  deviation  in  weight  in  casting.  The  nine  bells  were  to  be  placed 
in  position  for  the  sum  of  $3,800.  The  committee  was  authorized  to 
accept  the  proposition,  and  to  contract  for  the  nine  bells  with  the 
Messrs.  Meneely,  which  was  done. 

It  was  resolved  to  solicit  subscriptions  from  the  congregation 
towards  meeting  the  deficiency,  which  would  be  about  $1,200.  The 
Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  was  requested  to  furnish  a  suitable  inscription  to  be 
cast  on  each  bell. 

January  8,  1857,  the  committee  reported  that  the  chime  of  nine 
bells  had  been  procured  as  ordered,  and  placed  in  the  tower  ;  and  they 
recommended  that  another  bell  be  purchased,  to  make  the  chime  con- 
sist of  ten  bells  instead  of  nine,  which  was  ordered  done.  The  sched- 
ule of  weights  of  the  ten  bells  was  as  follows  : 

1.  Tenor,  E£, 2,500  lbs. 

2.  "  F, 1,800    " 

3-  <j 1,250    " 

4-  A^ 1,050    " 

5-  B/>, Soo    " 

6.  C, 620    " 

7.  (Flat  7th)  DJ, 5S0    '• 

8.  D 550    " 

9-  E<5 530    " 

9,680  lbs. 
10.  1 480    " 

10,160  lbs. 


The  Chivies  of  St.  Paul's.  301 

With  their  mountings,  frames,  etc.,  the  total  weight  is  close  to 
14,000  lbs.  The  chime  gives  the  whole  octave  in  the  key  of  E/>, 
namely  :  Eb,  F,  G,  Ab,  Bb,  C,  D,  Eb,  and  F  beyond  the  octave,  and  Db 
— (the  Flat  7th) — as  an  accidental.  Also,  in  the  key  of  Ab,  the  follow- 
ing series  of  tones  ;  Ab,  Bb,  C,  Db,  Eb,  F,  with  G,  F,  Ed  below  the 
key-note  —  and  in  this  case  D  becomes  the  accidental. 

Ten  bells  is  the  number  generally  used  to  form  a  complete  chime 
for  all  practical  purposes  ;  it  will  play  all  the  tunes  that  are  usually 
required. 

The  musical  notation  of  the  chimes  of  St.  Paul's  seems  never  to 
have  been  correctly  published  since  they  were  placed  in  the  tower. 
An  error  in  the  description,  first  made  in  the  records  of  the  "  Chime 
Fund  Association,"  has  been  repeated  whenever  the  bells  have  been 
referred  to,  and,  in  addition  to  this,  the  tone  value  of  the  tenth  bell 
has  been  omitted  entirely.  The  matter  was  referred  to  the  Messrs. 
Meneely  &  Co.,  of  Watervliet,  West  Troy,  N.  Y.,  successors  to  the 
makers  of  St.  Paul's  chime,  and  to  their  courtesy  we  are  indebted  for 
the  corrected  notation  as  given  here. 

August  13,  1857,  the  treasurer  reports  the  amount  of  the  Chime 
Fund  to  be  $5,268.95.  Of  this  sum,  $1,138.36  was  from  "the  young 
ladies'  fair,  held  for  the  benefit  of  the  Chime  Fund  at  American  Hall, 
December  12,  1856."  Of  the  $5,268.95,  was  expended:  To  A. 
Meneely's  Sons  for  the  ten  bells,  with  ringing  apparatus,  $4,053.78  ; 
for  freight,  rope,  extra  work,  etc.,  $205.47  ;  paid  for  adjusting  bells  for 
chiming,  complete,  roof  over  bells  in  tower,  fitting  up  ringing  room, 
etc.,  $260.44  !  leaving  a  balance  of  $749.26.  The  bells  and  the  bal- 
ance of  the  fund  were  then  handed  over  to  St.  Paul's  Church  vestry. 
The  vestry  agreed,  for  themselves  and  successors,  to  raise  and  appro- 
priate the  sum  of  $100  annually,  if  necessary,  to  be  applied  towards 
ringing  and  chiming  the  bells  and  keeping  them  in  order. 

The  inscriptions  prepared  for  the  bells  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  are 
strikingly  appropriate.  A  general  description  of  the  chimes,  with  a  list 
of   the  inscriptions,  appears  in  the  original  book  of   minutes  of  the 


302  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

Chime  Fund  Association.  This  description  has  been  quoted  in  the 
few  brief  accounts  of  the  bells  which  have  appeared  in  print.  There 
were  some  apparent  errors,  however,  and  it  was  thought  best  to  obtain 
the  inscriptions  directly  from  the  bells  themselves  as  they  are  now 
hung  in  the  tower.  With  some  difficulty  this  was  accomplished,  and 
several  variations  and  additions  to  the  list  as  recorded  were  found. 
The  belfry  is  crowded  with  mechanism  and  the  heavy  framework  and 
timbers  supporting  the  bells,  so  that  a  thorough  examinatian  of  the 
inscriptions  is  difficult.  The  exact  wording,  as  cast  upon  the  bells,  is 
here  given. 

The  largest  of  the  cluster  of  bells  is  called  the  "  Christian  Bell," 
and  bears  the  following  inscription:  "A.  D.  1856.  +  Bethlehem. 
Calvary.     Bethany." 

The  second  bell,  called  the  "Bishop's  Bell,"  is  inscribed  :  "A.  D. 
1856.  William  Heathcote  De  Lancey,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  D.  C.  L.  Oxon., 
First  Bishop  of  Western  New  York.  Consecrated  A.  D.  1839."  (Re- 
verse) "  If  a  man  desire  the  office  of  Bishop,  he  desireth  a  good  work." 

The  "Rector's  Bell  "  is  inscribed:  "A.  D.  1856.  William  Shel- 
ton,  D.  D.,  Rector.  Instituted  A.  D.,  1829."  (Reverse.)  "The Church 
of  the  Living  God,  the  pillar  and  ground  of  the  Truth." 

The  "Historical  Bell"  has  the  inscription:  "A.  D.  1S56.  St. 
Paul's  Church,  Buffalo,  organized  A.  D.  18 1 7  ;  the  first  church  conse- 
crated A.  D.  1819  ;  this  church  consecrated  A.  D.  185 1."  "  Let  every- 
thing that  hath  breath  praise  the  Lord."  (Reverse.)  "  Trinity  Church, 
Buffalo,  organized  A.  D.  1836.  St.  John's  Church,  Buffalo  organ- 
ized A.  D.  1845.  St.  James'  Church,  Buffalo,  organized  A.  D.  1853. 
Church  of  the  Ascension,  Buffalo,  organized  A.  D.  1855." 

The  statement  as  cast  on  the  "  Historical  Bell,"  that  the  first  —  or 
frame  —  church  was  consecrated  in  18 19  is  an  error.  The  corner- 
stone was  laid  in  1819,  but  the  buildingwas  not  consecrated  until  1821. 
This  error  on  the  bell  was  evidently  noticed,  and  some  one  was  appa- 
rently sent  to  erase  the  incorrect  figures.  Instead,  he  has  increased 
the  mistake  by  leaving  the  wrong  date   181 9  untouched,  and  chiseling 


The  Chimes  of  St.  Paul's.  303 

off  51  in  the  date  —  1S51 — of  the  consecration  of  the  stone  edifice, 
which  was  correct  —  having  evidently  confused  the  two  conse- 
crations. 

The  "Chime  Fund  Bell"  is  thus  inscribed:  "A.  D.  1856.  St. 
Paul's  Church  Chime  Fund,  founded  A.  D.  1850.  These  bells  were 
placed  in  this  tower  chiefly  through  the  efforts  of  the  younger  mem- 
bers of  the  parish,  comprising  the  'Chime  Fund.'  'The  liberal  de- 
viseth  liberal  things,  and  by  liberal  things  shall  he  stand.'  " 

The  "Sunday  Bell"  is  inscribed:  "A.  D.  1856.  We  announce 
the  sacred  day  of  rest.     We  assemble  the  people  for  worship." 

The  "Sacramental  Bell"  inscribed:  "A.  D.  1856.  We  welcome 
the  infant  at  the  font.  We  invite  the  youth  to  confirmation.  We 
invoke  the  faithful  to  the  Holy  Communion." 

The  "Patriotic  Bell"  is  inscribed:  "A.  D.  1856.  We  proclaim 
the  birthday  of  the  Nation's  freedom.  We  applaud  the  virtues  of  pat- 
riots and  heroes." 

The  "Bridal  and  Burial  Bell  "  is  inscribed:  "A.  D.  1856.  Joyful 
our  peal  for  the  Bridal  !     Mournful  our  plaint  for  the  Dead  !  " 

The  tenth  bell  was  hung  subsequently,  and  was  named  the  "Citi- 
zens' Bell,"  in  consideration  of  sundry  subscriptions  by  citizens  not 
members  of  St.  Paul's  Parish.  It  is  inscribed  :  "  A.  D.  1857.  This  bell 
is  added  to  the  chime  through  the  liberality  of  citizens  of  Buffalo." 

On  the  completion  of  the  belfry  of  the  smaller  tower,  in  1S51,  on  the 
Church  Street  side  of  the  new  edifice,  the  original  bell  from  the  frame 
church  was  hung  there,  having  been  retained  when  the  frame  structure 
was  sold  and  removed.  This  bell  was  bought  by  the  vestry  in  1 S2  r,  from 
Horatio  Hanks,  and  was  recast  in  1827,  its  tone  not  being  satisfactory. 
(See  pages  21  and  27.)  It  is  inscribed,  "Cochran  &  Fisher,  Batavia, 
1827."   This  firm  recast  the  bell  in  that  year  and  redated  it  accordingly. 

In  the  fire  of  1888,  the  timbers  supporting  this  old  bell  in  the  small 
tower  were  partially  burned,  and  the  bell  was  thrown  out  of  place,  but 
not  seriously  damaged.  It  is  now  rung  at  the  hour  (n  A.  M.)  of  the 
celebration  of  the  Holy  Communion  on  Thursdays  and  Holy  Days. 


304  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

One  of  the  Buffalo  papers,  of  December,  1856,  reports  that  "The 
St.  Paul's  chime  sounded  for  the  first  time  on  Christmas  Eve.  The 
bells  are  remarkably  sweet  and  musical,  and  in  perfect  harmony. 
....  Service  was  held  on  Christmas  Eve,  and  St.  Paul's  was  filled 
with  a  large  and  profoundly  attentive  flock.  After  the  service,  and 
again  at  twelve  o'clock,  the  chimes  rang  through  the  city  their 
delightful  sounds,  enlivening  the  spirits  and  animating  the  hearts  of 
all  the  faithful."  .... 

Among  Dr.  Shelton's  bequests  to  St.  Paul's  was  one  of  $2,000,  the 
interest  of  which  he  directed  should  be  used  for  ringing  and  chiming 
the  bells.     (Page  149.) 

Nathaniel  Tucker,  Sr.,  was  engaged  to  superintend  the  hanging  of 
the  bells  in  the  tower  in  1856,  and  the  installation  of  the  chiming  appa- 
ratus in  1857.  Mr.  Tucker  pealed  and  chimed  the  bells  for  twenty-five 
years,  and  his  services  will  be  referred  to  later.  Thomas  F.  Thornton, 
then  a  member  of  the  choir  of  St.  Paul's,  took  much  of  the  responsi- 
bility of  fitting  up  the  bells,  and  was  the  first  to  chime  them,  resigning 
from  the  choir  in  1857  in  order  to  devote  more  time  to  these  duties. 
Mr.  Thornton  died  in  1865.  He  was  a  member  of  St.  Luke's  first 
vestry  in  1857. 

On  February  10,  1857,  at  a  meeting  called  for  the  purpose  in  the 
belfry,  was  formed  St.  Paul's  Church  Bell  Ri/igi/ig  Association  "  to 
secure  the  regular  and  skillful  ringing  of  the  bells  of  St.  Paul's  Church." 
A  constitution,  prepared  by  Thomas  F.  Thornton,  was  adopted. 
According  to  the  original  manuscript,  the  object  of  the  association 
was  to  "secure  the  ringing  of  the  bells  of  St.  Paul's  Church  as  a  peal, 
on  all  proper  occasions,  as  Sundays,  Church  festivals,  national  holi- 
days, etc."  It  was  further  provided  that  "  the  funds  of  the  association 
shall  be  regarded  as  a  Mutual  Benefit  Fund,  excepting  donations  given 
for  bridal  peals  and  week-day  ringing,  which  shall  be  at  the  disposal  of 
the  members  who  ring  the  peals."  The  membership  was  at  first  limited 
to  sixteen.  Those  who  signed  the  constitution,  at  this  time,  were  : 
Thomas    F.    Thornton,    William     Channon,    John     Lock,    Nathaniel 


The  Chimes  of  St.  Pau/'s.  305 

Tucker,  Thomas  Hickman,  George  Scott,  John  Bishop,  and  Mark 
Stonham. 

At  the  next  meeting,  February  25,  1857,  the  members  showed  their 
appreciation  of  Edward  S.  Warren,  president  of  the  Chime  Fund 
Association,  and  long  active  in  the  musical  affairs  of  the  parish,  by 
electing  him  as  their  own  first  president ;  Thomas  Hickman  was  elected 
vice-president. 

The  association  proved  very  successful,  and  continued  in  active 
operation  for  over  twenty  years.  The  members  were  all  Englishmen, 
most  of  whom  had  rung  bells  in  the  old  country,  and  by  these  men 
and  their  successors  —  in  several  cases  the  sons  succeeding  their 
fathers  —  the  St.  Paul's  bells  were  pealed  upon  Sundays  and  church 
festivals,  as  well  as  weekly,  at  first  on  Saturday  nights  and  in  later 
years  on  Thursday  nights. 

The  pealing  of  the  bells  required  skill  and  long  practice,  and  the 
service  was  voluntary,  being  done  from  love  of  old  associations.  In  the 
days  of  "the  old-fashioned  Fourth  of  July"  the  city  authorities  often 
engaged  these  bell-ringers  to  celebrate  the  day  with  a  triumphant  peal. 
Dr.  Shelton  took  a  great  interest  in  the  ringers  ;  he  set  aside  pews  in 
the  church  for  their  use,  frequently  visited  them  in  the  ringers'  room 
in  the  tower,  and  on  such  occasions,  it  is  said,  never  failed  to  leave 
behind  him  as  a  memento  of  his  visit,  a  five-dollar  gold  piece,  which 
went  into  the  treasury  of  the  association.  It  was  also  his  custom  each 
January  to  entertain  them  at  the  rectory  with  a  bountiful  supper,  he 
himself  presiding  at  the  head  of  the  table. 

Owing  to  business  and  other  changes  affecting  the  individual  mem- 
bers, it  was  found  impossible  to  continue  the  organization.  Probably 
the  last  time  the  bells  were  pealed  was  at  the  funeral  of  Mrs.  Shelton, 
in  1882.  Few  of  the  men  now  survive.  To  two  of  these,  Henry  J. 
Hobbs  and  Robert  D.  Harris  of  Buffalo,  who  rang  during  the  '70's,  we 
are  indebted  for  some  personal  details  of  the  old  bell-ringers  of  St. 
Paul's  during  that  period.  It  is  pleasant,  too,  to  add  their  testimony 
of  the  affectionate  respect  felt  by  all  of  the  members  for  Dr.  Shelton. 


306  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

Peals  may  be  rung  upon  any  number  of  bells  from  three  to  twelve 
—  twelve  being  the  largest  number  ever  rung  as  a  peal.  Three  bells 
allow  six  "  changes,"  while  upon  twelve  bells,  it  is  stated  that  the  enor- 
mous number  of  479,001,600  "  changes  "  are  mathematically  possible. 
Eight  bells,  giving  the  octave,  are  called  the  perfect  peal.  With  eight 
bells,  40,320  changes  are  possible.  At  Leeds  Church,  Kent,  England, 
the  ringing  of  these  changes  was  actually  accomplished  in  the  year 
1761,  by  thirteen  men  in  twenty-seven  hours  of  continuous  ringing, 
and  "is  the  fullest  complete  peal  that  has  ever  been  rung." 

By  using  the  No.  7  bell  —  Db,  the  "  Flat  7th  " —  peals  may  be  rung 
in  the  key  of  Kb  ;  and  this  bell  and  the  10th  —  or  F  (treble)  bell  — 
are  especially  useful  in  giving  the  added  notes  often  needed  in  playing 
tunes  when  the  bells  are  chimed.  In  pealing,  a  leader  was  required  to 
"  call  "  the  peal  to  the  men  at  the  ropes  ;.  two  men  were  needed  for  the 
large  bell  (No.  1,  the  "tenor"),  and  one  man  for  each  of  the  others, 
making  the  services  of  twelve  men  necessary  when  all  the  bells  were 
pealed,  as  was  often  the  case  at  St.  Paul's.  The  usual  eight  or  six-bell 
peal  required  ten  and  eight  men  respectively.  One  of  the  old  bell- 
ringers  asserts  that  pealing  bells  at  St.  Paul's  was  "the  finest  exercise 
in  the  world."  The  term  "changes"  is  applied  to  ringing  the  bells  in 
any  variation  from  their  regular  order  in  the  scale.  A  "  peal,"  techni- 
cally, is  not  less  than  5,000  different  changes,  and  occupies  about  three 
hours.  The  ringing  of  a  lesser  number  of  changes  is  called,  in  ring- 
ers' parlance,  "a  touch,"  or  "flourish." 

In  pealing,  the  bells  themselves  are  swung,  and  the  sound  is  pro- 
duced by  the  freely-swinging  clappers  striking  the  sides.  The  greater 
beauty  of  the  tones  given  by  swinging  bells  over  those  struck  when 
stationary  is  spoken  of  by  all  writers  on  the  subject. 

At  one  end  of  the  rotating  yokes  upon  which  the  bells  are  hung,  in 
the  belfry  of  St.  Paul's,  are  large,  grooved  wheels  of  wood,  and  lying 
in  these  grooves  and  fastened  to  the  rim  a  little  below  the  top  of  the 
wheel  on  one  side,  were  the  ropes,  which  passed  down,  on  one  side  of 
the  wheel,  through  square  wooden  pipes,  placed  in  line  with  the  rim  of 


The  Chimes  of  St.  Paul's.  307 

the  wheel,  and  running  down  to  the  bell-ringers'  room  in  the  third 
story  of  the  tower,  just  below  the  room  in  which  the  levers  for  chiming 
the  bells  are  placed.  The  point  of  attachment  of  the  rope  to  the  rim 
of  the  wheel  of  course  turned  with  it,  and  the  pull  (or  point  of  lever- 
age) of  the  rope  on  the  rim  consequently  shifted  back  and  forth  dur- 
ing the  ringing. 

To  provide  for  this,  a  fixed  pulley  was  placed  at  the  top  of  the 
square  pipe,  which  served  to  guide  the  rope  into  the  pipe  during  these 
movements.  As  the  method  of  handling  the  bells  in  pealing  is  little 
understood,  a  few  words  of  explanation  may  not  be  out  of  place. 
Before  beginning  the  peal,  each  bell  was  "set,"  or  inverted.  This  was 
accomplished  by  pulling  on  the  rope  and  swinging  the  bell  until  its  own 
momentum  carried  it,  mouth  upwards,  just  beyond  the  center  of  its  axis, 
where  it  was  prevented  from  turning  entirely  over  by  a  "stopper  "  or 
"stay  "  fastened  upon  the  yoke,  which  engaged  with  a  buffer  called  the 
"slide,"  upon  the  framework. 

In  the  meantime  the  grooved  wheel  had,  of  course,  turned  with 
the  bell,  the  point  of  attachment  of  the  rope  on  the  rim  of  the  wheel 
had  turned  with  it,  and  the  point  of  leverage  of  the  rope  upon  the  rim 
had  shifted  to  the  other  side  of  the  center,  so  that  by  pulling  on  the 
same  rope  the  bell  could  be  held  back  or  "eased  "  into  its  position  as 
it  passed  over  the  center,  and  too  violent  a  contact  of  the  "  stopper  " 
and  "slide"  thus  prevented.  With  all  the  bells  thus  inverted  the 
pealing  was  begun.  The  bell  was  now  in  such  a  position  that  a  com- 
paratively slight  pull  upon  the  same  rope  which  had  served  to  raise  it, 
would  throw  it  off  the  balance  and  bring  it  down  again,  to  make  a  full 
swing  and,  by  its  own  momentum  come  up  upon  the  other  side  and 
over  the  center,  to  be  held  as  before  by  the  "stopper"  and  "slide," 
the  latter  so  called  because  it  automatically  adjusted  itself  to  hold  the 
inverted  bell  just  off  the  center,  at  either  end  of  its  swing. 

Between  the  strokes,  the  bell,  of  course,  remained  inverted,  and  at 
each  pull  of  the  rope  a  complete  revolution  was  made,  first  in  one 
direction  and  then  in  the  other.     The  bell  rang  once  at  the  end  of  each 


308  History  of  St.  PauVs  Church. 

swing,  just  as  it  was  "eased"  over  the  center,  and  the  quality  of  the 
sound  was  dependent  upon  the  skill  with  which  this  was  done.  As  the 
ringer  had  full  control  of  the  swings,  of  course  he  had  full  control  of 
the  strokes  also.  Skillful  handling  was  necessary  in  "  setting "  the 
heavy  bells  just  off  the  balance,  at  the  end  of  each  stroke  so  that  they 
could  be  safely  held  inverted  by  the  stoppers  and  slides.  A  little  care- 
lessness, especially  in  "easing  "the  bell,  as  above  described,  might 
have  torn  these  out,  and  endangered  the  framework  itself,  and  might 
even  have  thrown  the  bell  from  its  supports  and  sent  the  heavy  mass 
of  metal  crashing  down  through  the  floors  of  the  tower.  Indeed,  at 
one  time  an  accident  of  this  kind  very  nearly  occurred  at  St.  Paul's, 
but  fortunately  the  bell  was  caught  and  held  by  the  strong  oak  timbers 
of  the  framework.  Few  of  the  ropes,  "  stoppers  "  or  "  slides  "  are  now  in 
place.  The  corner  platform  for  the  leader,  and  some  of  the  swinging 
seats  against  the  wall,  used  by  the  men,  can  still  be  seen  in  the  ringers' 
room.  The  peals  were  spoken  of  as  "open"  or  "muffled."  The 
muffled  peal  was  given  by  fastening  leather  "mufflers"  upon  one  side 
of  the  clapper,  to  deaden  the  stroke,  and  thus,  when  the  bell  was 
swung,  one  series  of  notes  would  be  of  the  usual  clearness,  and  the  suc- 
ceeding series  deadened,  producing  a  most  somber  effect.  For  prac- 
tice, the  clapper  was  entirely  muffled.  The  open  peal  was  rung  without 
any  obstruction  on  the  clapper.  Many  citizens,  not  yet  old,  recall 
with  pleasure  the  pealing  of  the  bells  on  Christmas — "The  merry, 
merry  bells  of  Yule  " —  and  on  New  Year's  Eve,  under  the  skillful  hand- 
ling of  the  old  bell-ringers.  Hood  speaks  of  bells  as  "the  music 
nearest  heaven."  They  touch  both  extremes  of  human  emotion. 
What  sound  can  be  more  joyful  than  the  merry  peal,  or  what  more 
sombre  than  the  muffled  peal  with  its  melancholy  cadence  ?  This 
pealing  of  the  bells  is  entirely  different  in  effect  from  the  chiming  or 
ringing  of  tunes  and  melodies,  and  one  who  has  heard  it  does  not 
readily  forget  it.  It  is  as  if  living  voices  floated  out  from  the  belfry, 
and  one  ceases  to  wonder  at  the  fantasies  of  poets,  so  many  of  whom 
have  sung  of  the  pealing  bells  as  of  animate  beings.    The  changes 


The  Chivies  of  St.  Paul's.  309 

rung  in  the  old  days  at  St.  Paul's  on  New  Year's  Eve  seemed  the  very 
realization  of  Tennyson's  — 

"  Ring  out,  wild  bells,  to  the  wild  sky, 
The  flying  cloud,  the  frosty  light  ; 
The  year  is  dying  in  the  night  ; 
Ring  out,  wild  bells,  and  let  him  die." 

To  the  present  generation,  however,  the  pealing  of  St.  Paul's  bells  is 
an  unknown  experience.  For  twenty  years  past  they  have  been  chimed 
only,  but  efforts  are  now  being  made  to  organize  a  new  pealing  guild. 

The  bells  are  now  (1903)  rung  every  day  at  noon,  as  well  as  on  Sun- 
days and  Holy  Days  ;  the  selections  are  principally  familiar  hymns,  and 
the  chiming  is  done  by  a  single  operator,  through  a  system  of  levers 
numbered  from  one  to  ten.  These  levers  communicate  by  a  compli- 
cated arrangement  of  chains  and  pulleys,  with  pivoted  hammers,  which 
strike  the  bells  when  the  levers  are  pulled.  The  bells  themselves 
remain  stationary.  The  difference  in  tone  given  by  the  bells  when 
swung  and  struck  by  their  clappers,  over  that  given  when  struck  by  the 
pivoted  hammers,  as  at  present  arranged,  is  remarkable.  The  tone 
produced  by  the  hammer  is  much  less  sweet  and  musical,  the  ham- 
mers seeming  to  interfere  with  the  perfect  vibration  of  the  bells,  and 
marring  their  really  fine  tones.  In  fact,  the  mechanism  for  chiming  at 
St.  Paul's  is  clumsy  and  antiquated  ;  the  levers  work  irregularly,  and 
call  for  an  undue  amount  of  exertion  on  the  part  of  the  player,  and 
the  numbering  and  arrangement  are  not  in  accordance  with  present 
usage.  It  is  a  common  occurrence  for  some  part  of  the  apparatus  to 
break  down  in  the  middle  of  a  tune,  which  the  chimer  has  then  to 
finish  as  best  he  can  — a  fact  of  which  the  critic  in  the  street  is  of 
course  unaware.  The  hammers  for  chiming  at  St.  Paul's  are  placed 
below  the  bells,  so  as  not  to  interfere  with  their  swinging  if  it  is  desired 
to  peal  them. 

In  modern  chiming  arrangements,  excellent  tones  are  produced, 
but,  unfortunately,  in  all,  or  nearly  all,  of  these  devices,  the  hammers 
are  so  placed  that  the  bells  cannot  be  swung  for  pealing.     In  fact, 


310  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

they  are  usually  hung  stationary,  and  cannot  be  swung  at  all,  thus  ren- 
dering pealing  forever  impossible.  Plans  are  now  under  consideration 
for  putting  the  bells  at  St.  Paul's  in  more  perfect  tune,  and  for  the 
introduction  of  an  improved  method  of  chiming.  It  is  hoped  that  this 
may  be  accomplished  without  interfering  with  the  possibility  of  some- 
time again  pealing  the  bells.  With  suitable  mechanism,  it  would  be 
quite  possible  for  a  good  operator  to  play,  not  merely  hymns  and 
melodies,  but  to  reproduce  many  of  the  pealing  and  changing  effects 
which  the  old  bell-ringers  rendered  so  well  years  ago. 

The  chimer's  room  is  thirteen  feet  six  inches  square,  and  lighted  by 
four  small  lancet  windows.  It  is  in  the  fourth  story  of  the  tower. 
Over  the  keyboard  is  the  motto,  "  Praise  4*  ye  •{•  the  "J*  Lord,"  with 
a  design  of  swinging  bells  at  each  end,  and  underneath  is  a  rack  for 
the  music.  On  the  sixth  floor  is  the  belfry,  a  double  story  twenty- 
three  feet  four  inches  in  height,  by  thirteen  feet  six  inches  square.  In 
this  space  the  ten  bells  are  hung  at  various  altitudes,  supported  on  tim- 
bers of  solid  oak,  the  frame-work  being  constructed  and  supported  in 
accordance  with  Mr.  Upjohn's  recommendations,  so  as  to  transmit  as 
little  vibration  as  possible  to  the  stone  walls  of  the  tower.  A  small  and 
twisting  stairway  winds  here  and  there  among  the  bells,  and  leads  to 
the  spire,  which  begins  immediately  above  the  belfry.  There  are  eight 
great  louvre  windows  in  the  belfry,  two  on  each  of  the  four  sides. 

The  tower  is  entirely  separate  from  the  church,  except  in  the  first 
story,  where  the  doorway  from  the  south,  or  Erie  Street,  porch  leads 
into  the  "  tower  room."  At  the  southwest  corner  of  this  room  is  the 
entrance  to  the  spiral  stairway  leading  to  the  different  stories  above. 

For  many  years,  previous  to  1882,  the  records  of  the  Diocese  of 
Western  New  York  were  kept  in  cases  built  in  the  "tower  room," 
in  the  first  story.  In  the  fall  of  18S2,  the  second  floor  of  the  tower 
was  fitted  up  as  a  muniment  room,  and  the  records  were  removed 
there.  They  passed  safely  through  the  fire  of  1888,  but  show  marks  of 
the  water  and  smoke.  In  July,  1895,  this  use  of  the  room  was  discon- 
tinued, and  the  records  were  then  placed  in  one  of  the  fireproof  build- 


The  Chimes  of  St.  Paul 's.  311 

ings  of  the  city.  The  records  of  the  vestry  of  St.  Paul's  were  at  one 
time  kept  in  the  tower,  but  are  now  in  the  hands  of  the  rector,  at  the 
Parish  House,  which  is  of  fireproof  construction. 

The  stairway  is  in  the  stone  turret  buttress  at  the  southwest  angle 
of  the  tower.  This  turret  buttress  is  skillfully  harmonized  with  the 
buttresses  at  the  other  angles  of  the  tower,  but  differs  from  them  in 
design,  being  larger,  octagonal  in  plan,  and  pierced  with  small  win- 
dows to  light  the  stairs  within.  In  addition  to  furnishing  space  for  the 
stairway,  this  buttress  appears,  to  the  eye,  to  balance  the  mass  of  the 
edifice  upon  the  opposite  side,  and  adds  an  especially  fine  feature  to 
the  noble  lines  of  the  general  design.  The  spiral  stairway  runs  up  for 
five  stories,  the  doorways  to  the  different  floors  opening  onto  it.  At 
the  fifth  story  the  turret  dies  into  the  tower,  and  a  straight  stairway 
continues  along  the  inner  wall  of  the  tower  to  the  belfry.  The  stairs 
wind  irregularly  among  the  bells,  as  before  stated,  and  above  the 
belfry,  in  the  spire,  they  follow  the  narrowing  walls,  broken  by 
frequent  platforms  or  landings,  and  finally  terminate  at  the  topmost 
windows,  where  the  heavy  crossed  beams  support  the  lower  end  of  the 
fifty-foot  iron  rod,  which  passes  up  through  the  great  stone  finial  of 
the  spire  and  holds  in  place  the  gilded  cross.  Above  the  stairs  a  rough 
ladder  of  wooden  cross  pieces  nailed  to  a  stout  upright  timber  leads  to 
one  more  landing,  far  above  which  extend  the  dim  recesses  of  the 
slender  stone  cone,  lighted  at  the  top  by  four  round  openings. 

As  before  stated,  the  chiming  apparatus  was  installed  in  the  spring 
of  1857,  and  the  bells  were  first  chimed  by  Thomas  F.  Thornton,  who 
took  a  great  interest  in  the  work  and  continued  it  for  several  years, 
until  his  health  began  to  fail. 

There  are  no  available  records  to  show  who  his  immediate  successor 
was  ;  undoubtedly  some  member  of  the  association  for  pealing  the 
bells  took  his  place,  possibly  Nathaniel  Tucker,  Sr.,  but  probably 
Nicholas  Olver.  Existing  records  show  that  Mr.  Olver  was  chiming 
the  bells  early  in  187 1,  and  continued  until  January  1,  1882,  at  which 
time  his  age  made  it  necessary  for  him  to  retire.     The  association  for 


312  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

pealing  the  bells  had,  by  this  time,  practically  disbanded,  although  the 
bells  were  pealed  on  one  or  two  later  occasions  ;  and  Nathaniel  Tucker, 
Sr.  (or  N.  H.  Tucker,  as  his  name  is  sometimes  given  in  the  records), 
who  had  been  one  of  the  founders  of  the  pealing  association  in  1857, 
and  a  leader  in  the  organization  ever  since  that  time,  in  spite  of  his 
own  advanced  age,  followed  Mr.  Olver  as  the  chimer,  January  1,  1882. 
Mr.  Tucker  chimed  the  bells  admirably  until  1885,  at  which  time  he 
left  Buffalo,  and  on  May  1,  1885,  the  vestry  voted  a  request  that  the 
rector,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Brown,  should  write  to  him  a  letter,  expressive  of 
their  appreciation  of  his  long  and  faithful  service  of  more  than  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century.  Ever  since  then  the  service  has  been  generally  ren- 
dered by  different  young  men  connected  with  the  vested  choir.  The 
first  of  these  was  Frederick  T.  Johnson,  who  began  on  September  1, 
1885,  and  continued  to  chime  the  bells  for  about  five  years.  It  was  he 
who  chimed  at  the  time  of  the  fire,  May  10,  1888.  He  was  assisted 
during  the  latter  part  of  his  service  by  Henry  S.  Sizer,  then  a  member 
of  the  vested  choir,  and  now  the  Rev.  Henry  S.  Sizer. 

Mr.  Sizer  succeeded  Mr.  Johnson,  and  chimed  the  bells  for  a 
time,  assisted  by  some  of  the  other  members  of  the  choir,  and  by  the 
sexton,  then  Wm.  Graveson,  who  was  an  Englishman,  and  familiar 
with  bells.  In  November,  1892,  Frank  Gedies  took  charge  of  the  bells 
and  chimed  them  until  February  18,  1900,  when  he  left  Buffalo.  Mr. 
Gedies  took  much  interest  in  his  work.  It  was  he  who  put  the  motto, 
which  has  been  mentioned,  over  the  chiming  frame,  and  upon  the  inner 
side  of  the  stone  lintel  of  the  doorway  carved  a  smiling  cherub  face. 
Herbert  A.  White  succeeded  him,  and  chimed  the  bells  for  eight  or  ten 
months,  followed  by  his  brother,  David  White,  and  then  by  Roy  Van 
Valkenberg,  who  volunteered  for  a  time.  Richard  Scobell  played 
from  August  24,  1901,  to  January  12,  1902.  Henry  S.  Spelder  was 
chimer  from  January  15  to  August  3,  1902,  when  Arthur  Cashmore 
became  the  chimer,  assisted  by  several  of  the  young  men  of  the  choir. 
This  arrangement  is  still  (1903)  continued. 

One    of    the    Buffalo  papers,   in   1893,  speaking  of   an   especially 


The  Chimes  of  St.  PauVs. 


3*3 


snowy  and  stormy  Sunday  night,  says  :  "  But  the  few  people  who  were 
on  the  streets  were  not  left  without  music  appropriate  to  Sunday  even- 
ing. St.  Paul's  bells  played  the  soothing  '  Russian  Evening  Hymn.' 
The  belfry  was  hidden  from  sight  by  the  aerial  drifts,  which  isolated 
pedestrians  the  one  from  the  other  and  gave  each  a  little  snow-bound 
world  of  his  own.  But  to  every  wanderer  came  the  message  from  the 
steeple,  all  other  sounds  and  sights  being  shut  out."  .... 

The  following  is  a  poetic  fancy  which  the  pealing  of  St.  Paul's  bells 
suggested  to  the  late  Allen  G.  Bigelow,  who  was  at  one  time  a  member 
of  the  choir  of  St.  Paul's,  and  whose  early  death  was  so  greatly  deplored. 
The  poem  was  printed  in  "Bohemia"  for  December  23,  1882  : 

THE  SPIRIT  OF  THE  BELLS. 


High  in  the  belfry  of  St.  Paul's 
A  strange,  weird  spirit  dwells, 

Amid  the  ghostly  wheels  and  ropes, — 
The  Spirit  of  the  Bells. 

As  often  as  the  bells  are  swung, 

The  Spirit  loudly  sings  ; 
Now  wild  and  sweet,  now  gay,  now  sad, 

His  changeful  music  rings. 

On  Sabbath  morn  the  Spirit's  voice 

Loud  o'er  the  city  peals. 
At  evening,  like  the  Angelus, 

His  silvery  summons  steals. 


Amid  the  perfume  of  the  flowers 
Which  Easter  morning  brings, 

A  risen  and  triumphant  Lord 
The  Spirit  loudly  sings. 

Again,  beneath  the  wintry  moon 
The  Spirit's  voice  I  hear, 

'Mid  flying  snow  and  flying  cloud, 
Proclaim  the  glad  New  Year. 


But  ah  !  When  Christmas-tide  returns, — 
The  birth-night  of  our  Lord, — 

'Twould  seem  a  year's  glad  ringing  then 
Within  the  bells  is  stored. 

The  Spirit  holds  high  carnival 

Up  in  his  belfry  then  ! 
And  "  Gloria  in  Excelsis"  sings, 

And  "  Peace,  good-will  to  men." 

He  swings  the  pealing  bells  about. 

The  iron  cups  o'erflow 
And  dash  their  floods  of  melody 

Upon  the  streets  below. 


Oh  city  !  Canst  thou  e'er  forget 

This  tale  the  Spirit  tells 
High  in  the  tower  of  old  St.  Paul's, 

Among  the  swinging  bells  ? 

Amid  the  roar  of  busy  streets 
Which  better  feeling  quells, 

List  to  that  voice  from  old  St.  Paul's 
The  Spirit  of  the  Bells. 


314  History  of  St.  Paul's  Cluirch. 


Zhe  (3reat  XTower  anfc  Spire, 

The  proportions  of  the  majestic  tower  and  spire  of  St.  Paul's,  so 
perfect  and  satisfying  to  the  most  critical  eye,  become  more  appreciated 
as  they  are  compared  with  other  examples  of  such  work,  either  in  this 
country  or  abroad. 

In  the  accepted  design,  as  at  first  submitted  by  the  architect,  Richard 
Upjohn,  Sr.,  the  main  spire  had  more  windows  than  as  finally  built,  and 
the  junction  of  the  octagon  of  the  spire  with  the  square  of  the  tower 
was  ornamented  with  small  but  elaborate  open-work  buttresses  of  stone. 
The  angles  of  the  octagons  of  both  the  large  and  small  spires,  for 
their  full  heights,  were  ornamented  with  carved  crockets.  On  Decem- 
ber 21,  1866,  when  the  work  of  building  the  spire  was  about  to  begin, 
Mr.  Upjohn,  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Shelton  (quoted  on  page  103),  speaks  of 
simplifying  the  design,  as  "  it  will  then  be  quite  rich  enough  to  accord 
with  the  severity  of  the  tower  and  church."  The  change  was  a  happy 
one,  as  it  brought  the  fine  lines  of  the  structure  into  much  stronger  relief. 

(See  the  reproduction,  at  page  68,  of  the  lithographs  of  the  church, 
published  in  185 1  for  the  benefit  of  the  Chime  Fund.  Also,  the  illus- 
trations of  the  wooden  model  of  the  church  in  1850,  at  page  390.) 

The  junction  of  the  spire  and  the  tower  is  most  successfully  car- 
ried out,  yet  with  the  utmost  apparent  simplicity  of  design,  without 
any  of  the  devices  of  using  pinnacles,  parapets  or  other  ornamental 
stone-work  to  cover  up  the  difficulties  of  uniting  an  octagon  and  a 
square.     It  is  called,  architecturally,  a  "broach  "  spire. 

Mr.  Upjohn's  preliminary  design  for  St.  Paul's,  as  shown  in  the 
colored  perspective  drawing,  preserved  at  the  Parish  House,  exhibits 
interesting  differences  from  the  design  finally  adopted.  The  junction 
of  the  tower  and  spire  is  ornamented  with  corner  pinnacles,  and  small 
open-work  buttresses.  The  turret  buttress  is  at  the  northwest  corner 
of  the  tower  instead  of  at  the  southwest.  The  west  porch  has  no 
pediment  and  there  is  no  flying  buttress  above  it.     The  chapel  on  the 


THE     RESTORED      ST.    PAUL'S. 
From  southwest  corner  Pearl  and  Swan  streets,  showing  the  Great  Tower  and  Spire.     (See  pages  314  to  318  ) 


Photograph  by  G.  H.  B.,  September,  1902. 


The  Great   Toiver  and  Spire.  315 

north  side  of  the  church  is  only  about  one-half  the  height  of  that  in  the 
design  accepted  later.  The  general  lines  of  the  edifice,  as  shown  in  this 
preliminary  study,were  not  otherwise  materially  changed  in  the  final  plan. 

The  tower  of  St.  Paul's  forms  the  west  wall  of  the  south  porch,  and 
the  south  wall  of  the  west  porch,  otherwise  it  is  entirely  disconnected 
from  the  main  body  of  the  church.  The  only  entrance  to  the  tower  is 
by  the  doorway  from  the  first  floor  of  the  south,  or  Erie  Street,  porch, 
which  opens  through  the  connecting  wall  into  the  "tower  room."  The 
stone-arched  entrance  to  the  west  porch  forms  the  base  of  the  adjoining 
buttress  of  the  tower. 

There  are  curious  discrepancies  in  the  various  statements  of  the 
height  of  the  main  tower  and  spire. 

In  a  description  of  Mr.  Upjohn's  plans,  published  shortly  before 
the  work  on  the  new  church  was  begun,  in  1849,  tne  measurements  of 
the  church  are  very  fully  given.  The  height  of  the  tower  from  the 
base  line  to  its  junction  with  the  spire  was  originally  intended  to  be 
116  feet,  and  the  height  of  the  spire,  109  feet;  total,  225  feet.  (See 
account  of  the  wooden  model,  page  390.)  The  height  of  the  spire 
was,  however,  much  increased  as  finally  built. 

At  page  109,  in  this  volume,  is  quoted  an  article  from  the  Buffalo 
Express  of  August  1,  1870,  which  gives  the  distance  from  the  ground 
level  to  the  top  of  the  finial  as  255  feet,  the  cross  adding  three  feet 
eight  inches,  making  258  feet  eight  inches. 

On  page  103,  in  a  quotation  from  the  minutes  of  the  building 
committee  in  1867,  a  plan  showing  the  height  of  the  spire  from  the 
square  of  the  tower  as  120  feet  is  spoken  of.  The  height  was,  however, 
still  further  increased. 

The  Buffalo  Commercial  of  Saturday,  August  7,  1869,  speaking  of 
St.  Paul's  spire,  then  about  sixteen  feet  above  the  tower,  and  in  course 
of  construction,  says  :  ....  "  Height  of  tower,  120  feet;  spire  and 
cross,  130  feet";  total,  250  feet.  The  walls  at  the  top  of  the  tower 
are  twenty-two  feet  square  and  four  feet  thick.  "  The  carved  finial  is 
to  be  four  feet  ten  inches  in  height,  and  surmounted  by  an  Episcopal 


3X6  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

cross  of  copper  gilt,  three  feet  eight  inches  high,  connected  with  the 
spire  by  an  iron  bar  fifty  feet  long,  the  lower  end  of  which  will  be 
fastened  to  an  oak  beam,  which  will  be  set  in  the  masonry."  The 
spire  of  Trinity  Church,  New  York  City,  is  given  as  260  feet  high.  It 
has  been  asserted,  however,  by  the  builder  that  it  is  no  higher  than 
that  of  St.  Paul's  (see  page  109),  not  having  been  carried  to  the  height 
called  for  by  the  plans. 

In  the  copyright  title  of  the  photographs  taken  from  the  scaffold- 
ing on  the  spire  by  C.  L.  Pond,  shortly  before  the  completion  in 
1870,  the  height  is  given  as  266  feet.  On  page  142,  this  volume, 
in  the  description  of  the  church  in  1883,  the  figures  274  feet  are  given. 

A  measurement,  in  September,  1895,  computed  from  the  ground 
by  triangulation,  by  courtesy  of  Henry  L.  Lyon,  Civil  Engineer,  gives 
the  height  as  254  feet  to  the  top  of  the  cross. 

Still  another  measurement,  in  August,  1897,  kindly  made  byLawson 
Adams,  contractor  for  the  new  lightning  rod  put  up  in  that  year,  gives  the 
height  of  the  main  tower  and  spire,  taken  from  the  top  of  the  cross  to 
the  ground,  by  means  of  a  light  measuring  rope,  as  266  feet. 

Another  computation  by  triangulation,  was  made  by  Guthrie  & 
Diehl,  Civil  Engineers,  in  October,  1902,  with  the  following  result: 
Height  of  tower,  114  feet  5  inches  ;  height  of  spire,  132  feet ;  cross,  3 
feet  7  inches  ;    total,  250  feet. 

These  three  later  computations  were  made  especially  for  this 
History. 

The  cross  on  the  main  spire  of  St.  Paul's  was  put  in  place  August 
6,  1870.     (See  pages  108,  109.) 

The  Buffalo  Commercial  o(  October  3,  187 1,  says:  "The  finial  of 
the  belfry  spire  [of  the  Church  Street,  or  small,  tower]  of  St.  Paul's 
Church  was  placed  yesterday,  thus  completing  an  edifice  that  was  begun 
more  than  a  score  of  years  ago,  and  which,  long  before  it  was  finished, 
was  regarded  as  the  most  attractive  object  in  the  city.  [See  note  foot 
of  page  in.]  We  understand  that  the  distinguished  architect,  Mr.  Up- 
john of  New  York,  deems  it  nearer  to  perfection  than  any  other  of  the 


The  Great  Tower  and  Spire.  3 1 7 

many  beautiful  churches  he  has  designed,  and  we  know  that  it  is  the 
admiration  of  all  beholders But  there  is  an  ancient  and  dilapi- 
dated structure  near  by  that  is  not  so  handsome.  We  allude  to  the 
venerable  looking  shed  in  which  the  stones  have  been  cut  and  worked 
for  St.  Paul's,  and  which  has  disfigured  the  street  more  years  than  we 
care  to  specify  —  so  long,  that  the  memory  of  man  runneth  not  to  the 
contrary.  This  hoary  old  nuisance  of  a  shed  should  not  be  suffered  to 
cumber  the  ground  a  day  longer,  now  that  there  is  not  a  shadow  of 
excuse  for  it."  .... 

The  old  shed  shows  in  the  photographic  illustration  opposite  page 
no,  in  this  volume,  taken  before  the  small  spire  on  Church  Street 
was  finished. 

(For  a  description  of  the  arrangement  of  the  interior  of  the  main 
tower,  belfry,  etc.,  and  of  the  turret  buttress  at  the  southwest 
angle  of  the  tower,  see  pages  310,  311  of  the  chapter  in  this  book 
on  "The  Chimes  of  St.  Paul's." — For  height  of  smaller  tower  and 
spire,  see  page  142.) 

An  examination  of  the  exterior  of  the  main  spire,  which  we  recently 
made  through  a  powerful  glass,  resulted  in  some  interesting  discov- 
eries. Running  up  the  stem  of  the  finial,  facing  towards  Pearl  Street, 
is  carved  the  name  of  the  superintendent  of  the  construction  of  the 
spire,  "HURLBERT."     (See  pages  107,  121.) 

Upon  the  opposite  side  of  the  stem,  facing  Main  Street,  is  similarly 
carved  the  name  of  the  master  stonecutter  and  mason,  "  CASS." 

(See  page  107.) 

A  short  distance  below  the  finial  are  four  small,  round  openings  in 
the  stone,  facing  north,  south,  east  and  west.  Immediately  below  the 
level  of  these,  upon  the  southwest  face  of  the  spire,  is  a  stone  bearing 
the  following  inscription  : 

"FOUNDED    1817 

COMPLETED    1870 

WILLIAM    SHELTON 

RECTOR." 


3 1 8  History  of  St.  Paul's  Cliurch. 

Some  distance  below  this,  about  half  way  to  the  tops  of  the 
highest  windows,  at  the  westerly  angle  of  the  spire,  facing  down  Erie 
Street,  is  a  stone  marked  in  large  letters : — 

"S.  E.  M. 

1870." 

The  significance  of  this  we  have  been  unable  to  ascertain.  The 
stone  bought  with  money  given  in  1864  by  the  Right  Rev.  W.  J. 
Trower,  Lord  Bishop  of  Gibraltar,  and  which  it  was  intended  to  mark 
with  his  name  and  the  initials  of  his  diocese,  we  have  been  unable  to 
identify.  Bishop  Trower  resigned  his  see  in  1868,  before  the  spire 
was  built,  and  a  different  inscription, —  one  perhaps  even  suggested  by 
him, —  may  have  been  adopted.  Possibly,  if  the  story  of  the  letters 
"  S.  E.  M."  referred  to  above,  were  known,  they  might  prove  to  mark 
the  stone  he  gave.     (See  pages  432,  433.) 

We  have  found  no  record  of  any  of  these  interesting  inscriptions, 
nor  have  we  found  any  one  who  knew  of  their  existence. 

It  will  be  noticed  in  some  of  the  illustrations  in  this  volume,  from 
photographs  taken  in  former  years,  that  the  church  in  its  entirety,  and 
especially  the  great  tower  and  spire,  seemed  to  dominate  the  surround- 
ing buildings  of  the  smaller  city  almost  like  a  foreign  cathedral. 

The  general  effect  of  this  noble  piece  of  architecture  is  now  some- 
what interfered  with  by  the  numerous  high  buildings  since  erected  about 
it,  marking  the  progress  of  Buffalo  from  a  small  to  a  great  city  ;  but 
the    view  of  the  "cross-topped  spire"    from    the   southwest,    as  one 
looks  up  through  the  wide  expanse  of  Erie  Street  towards  Main  Street, 
is  particularly  impressive  and  beautiful. 
"  It  peereth  in  the  air 
O'er  the  holy  place  of  prayer  .... 
Like  a  watchman,  at  his  post, 

Let  it  say  — 
Here  the  Lord  Jehovah  dwells, 
I  [ere  ring  the  holy  hells, 
Here  the  Church's  service  swells  ; 
Come  and  pray  !  " 


The  Music,  i  Si 7-1901.  319 

Zbc  Music  at  St.  Paul's. 
1817-1903. 

"  And  these  that  sing  shall  pass  away  ;  Be  sure  thy  children's  children  here 

New  choirs  their  room  shall  fill :  Shall  hear  those  anthems  still." 

The  rendering  of  the  musical  portion  of  the  services  has  always 
been  a  matter  of  importance  in  St.  Paul's  Parish.  Beginning  in  a  very 
small  and  primitive  way,  the  music  improved  as  the  parish  emerged 
from  its  missionary  beginnings  early  in  the  century,  and  grew  and 
increased  with  the  growth  of  the  church.  The  musical  affairs  have 
been  under  the  general  direction  of  the  music  committees  appointed 
by  the  vestries.  These  committees  usually  engaged  the  organists, 
and  consulted  with  them  as  to  the  rendering  of  the  music,  subject,  of 
course,  to  the  rector's  approval.  The  different  committees  did  efficient 
and  faithful  work,  but  they  did  not  consider  it  necessary  to  keep  for- 
mal records  of  their  proceedings,  and  few  of  their  reports  made  to  the 
various  vestries  can  now  be  found,  and  those  that  are  in  existence  are 
usually  lacking  in  details.  It  has  been  consequently  difficult  to  follow 
the  different  changes  and  growth  of  the  music.  It  has  been  necessary 
to  consult  the  books  of  the  various  treasurers,  and  many  other  old  rec- 
ords and  documents  of  the  parish,  old  newspaper  files,  scrap  books, 
and  programmes.  The  Buffalo  newspapers  paid  little  attention  to 
church  festivals  or  church  music,  or  indeed  to  music  of  any  kind,  until 
about  the  year  1864,  when  John  R.  Drake  began  his  interesting  musi- 
cal and  dramatic  notes  in  the  Buffalo  Commercial  Advertiser.  These 
notes  and  similar  information  in  other  Buffalo  papers  have  helped  in 
filling  out  some  parts  of  the  record  given  here. 

In  the  very  early  days  of  St.  Paul's  the  choir  was  composed  of 
Jacob  A.  Barker,  Dr.  Josiah  Trowbridge  and  Stephen  G.  Austin, 
assisted  by  a  few  of  the  ladies  of  the  parish  whose  names  are  not  men- 
tioned. Dr.  Trowbridge  was  also  a  member  of  the  first  vestry. 
There  is  no  record  of  any  musical  instrument  being  in  use  at  St.  Paul's 
at  this  time.  On  March  29,  1820,  the  oldest  musical  society  in  Buffalo 
was  organized,  called  the  "  Musica  Sacra  Society,"  and  the  Rev.  Deo- 


320  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

datus  Babcock,  who,  a  few  weeks  later,  became  the  second  rector  of 
St.  Paul's,  was  its  leader  and  teacher.  This  society's  membership  list 
of  fifty  contains  the  names  of  most  of  the  prominent  residents  of  Buf- 
falo of  that  day. 

The  first  frame  edifice  of  St.  Paul's  was  consecrated  February  25, 
1821.  The  village  newspaper,  The  Buffalo  Patriot,  of  July  10,  1821, 
had  the  following  in  regard  to  St.  Paul's  choir,  which  was  a  voluntary 
one,  on  the  occasion  of  the  fourth  of  July  celebration  in  that  year  : 
.  .  .  .  "The  procession  marched  to  the  Episcopal  Church."  .  .  .  . 
The  services  were  "  commenced  by  singing  an  appropriate  hymn,"  and 
"  were  concluded  by  singing  Hail  Columbia.  The  able  manner  with 
which  the  choir  acquitted  themselves  on  the  occasion  was  highly  grati- 
fying to  the  audience."  ....  And  of  the  celebration  of  the  fourth  of 
July,  1824,  the  same  paper  reports  that,  during  the  services  at  St. 
Paul's,  "the  singing  was  performed  in  a  style  creditable  to  the  choir 
and  highly  gratifying  to  all."  These  are  probably  the  earliest  recorded 
musical  criticisms  in  Buffalo,  and  serve  to  make  almost  audible  to  us 
those  far-off  strains  of  "  Hail  Columbia,"  sung  by  voices  so  long  ago 
hushed.  At  the  beginning  of  the  rectorate  of  the  Rev.  Addison 
Searle,  in  March,  1825,  he  was  given  authority  by  the  vestry  to  pur- 
chase an  organ  for  the  church.  This  was  done  by  subscription,  dated 
March,  1825  (see  page  25).  On  August  22,  1S25,  "the  organ  recently 
placed  in  the  church  by  Hall  and  Erben,  was  accepted,  and  the  treasurer 
was  instructed  to  pay  them  $430."  The  new  organ  was  in  place  in  time 
for  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  the  City  of  Ararat,  September  2, 
1825,  on  the  "  communion  table  of  St.  Paul's  "  (see  pages  27  and  366),  at 
which  time,  according  to  Major  Mordecai  M.  Noah's  own  account, 
"  the  full-toned  organ  commenced  its  swelling  notes,  performing  the 
fu dilate,"  and  "'Before  Jehovah's  Awful  Throne'  was  sung  by  the 
choir  to  the  tune  of  Old  Hundred." 

At  this  time  the  number  of  communicants  reported  by  St.  Paul's  to 
the  convention  was  twenty-seven,  and  the  following  year,  thirty-five. 
In  1827,  the  report  was  fifty  communicants. 


The  Music,  1817-1903.  321 

The  name  of  the  organist  who  played  at  St.  Paul's  prior  to  1827  is 
not  known.  The  first  recorded  name  is  that  of  James  D.  Sheppard, 
who,  in  a  letter  written  by  him  in  1840,  says  :  "  May  14,  1827,  I  arrived 
in  Buffalo,  and  commenced  my  engagement  as  organist  of  St.  Paul's 
Church,  at  a  salary  of  $200  per  year,  and  an  additional  sum  of  $50  per 
quarter  for  instruction  to  the  choir." 

Mr.  Sheppard  was  an  Englishman  by  birth,  and  a  musician  by  nature 
and  education.  In  England  he  was  known  as  a  clever  oratorio  singer, 
and  at  times  had  played  the  violin  in  various  orchestras,  and  he  had 
heard,  and  performed  with,  the  great  celebrities  of  his  day.  He  was  a 
man  of  sterling  character,  and  the  value  of  such  an  organist  to  the 
little  village  congregation  in  those  primitive  days  can  be  readily  appre- 
ciated. His  service  as  organist  lasted,  with  one  or  two  short  intermis- 
sons,  until  the  old  frame  church  was  sold  in  1850.  Mr.  Sheppard  opened 
the  first  music  store  in  Buffalo,  in  May,  1827,  originally  in  his  own 
name,  and  now  known  as  Denton,  Cottier  &  Daniels  ;  and  in  the  same 
year  he  brought  the  first  piano  for  sale  to  the  village.  People  came 
from  miles  around  to  see  this  "strange  machine." 

In  1827,  the  choir  consisted  of  Noah  P.  Sprague,  J.  M.  Langdon, 
Dr.  Stagg,  B.  Higgins,  and  Miss  Katherine  Kip,  Miss  Fanny  Pomeroy, 
Miss  Katherine  Ransom,  Miss  Belinda  Radcliffe,  afterwards  Mrs.  Rob- 
ert Hollister. 

On  November  28,  1827,  a  subscription  amounting  to  $113.50  was 
made  "  for  the  purpose  of  defraying  the  expenses  of  the  music  in  said 
church,  for  six  months  ending  on  the  28th  November,  1827."  From 
time  to  time  subscriptions  were  made  by  different  members  of  the  con- 
gregation, in  which  they  promised  to  pay  certain  sums  per  quarter  for 
the  tuition  of  pupils  by  the  organist  of  St.  Paul's.  From  May  27th  to 
December,  1829,  two  "singing  schools"  were  held  each  week. 

In  the  minutes  of  the  vestry  meeting  of  April  23,  1828,  occurs  the 
first  mention  of  a  music  committee,  Dr.  H.  R.  Stagg  reporting  for 
such  committee.  In  the  year  1828,  the  church  edifice  was  much 
enlarged,  as  stated  elsewhere  in  this  volume.     April  4,  1829,  George 


322  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

Beach  acknowledges  receipt  of  $2.40  for  "blowing  the  organ  in  the 
church."  Another  receipt,  giving  a  glimpse  of  conditions  at  that  time, 
is  that  of  Loring  Peirce,  the  sexton,  dated  April  18,  1829,  for  candles. 
Among  the  items  is  one  of  fifty  cents  "  for  four  pounds  candles  for 
singers";  also,  "sperm  candles  for  chandelier,"  of  more  elegance  than 
those  for  the  singers. 

In  a  letter  written  in  1829,  Dr.  Josiah  Trowbridge  says:  "Our 
organ  is  closed,  as  I  understand,  on  account  of  there  being  no  funds 
to  pay  an  organist."  This  stringency,  however,  could  not  have  lasted 
very  long,  for  in  June,  1829,  the  vestry  appointed  Dr.  Trowbridge  a 
committee  to  sell  the  organ,  and  purchase  a  new  one.  The  subscrip- 
tion list  for  the  new  organ,  to  cost  $1,200,  is  dated  September,  1829, 
and  amounted  to  $950. 

On  Sunday,  September  13,  1S29,  the  Rev.  William  Shelton  preached 
his  first  sermon  as  rector  of  St.  Paul's.  From  December,  1829,  to 
September,  1832,  a  "  singing  school "  was  held  each  week.  On  January 
19,  1830,  the  first  vestry  meeting  at  which  Dr.  Shelton  presided,  it  was 
resolved,  "that  Mr.  Sheppard  be  paid  at  the  rate  of  $200  per  annum 
from  the  1st  September,  1829,  and  $150  per  annum  for  the  nine  months 
previous,"  for  his  services  as  organist. 

In  1 83 1,  the  missionary  stipend  to  St.  Paul's  was  discontinued,  and 
the  parish  became  entirely  self-supporting.  In  1832,  Buffalo  was 
incorporated  as  a  city,  with  a  population  of  10,000.  In  March,  1833, 
the  vestry  dispensed  with  the  services  of  Mr.  Sheppard  as  organist, 
on  account  of  lack  of  funds  ;  but  the  new  vestry,  a  month  later,  in 
April,  reappointed  him.  In  1836,  Trinity  Parish  was  organized,  at  a 
meeting  held  at  St.  Paul's.  In  1837,  Miss  Agnes  L.  Thompson  (after- 
wards Mrs.  Edward  S.  Warren)  and  Miss  Kate  Kipp  are  spoken  of  as 
singing  in  the  choir.  In  April,  1839,  it  having  been  represented  to 
the  vestry  that  many  of  the  congregation  were  dissatisfied  with  the 
church  music,  George  B.  Webster,  Lester  Brace  and  Dr.  James  P. 
White  were  appointed  the  music  committee.  At  this  time  Mr.  Shep- 
pard made  a  new  arrangement  with  the  vestry  ;  this  was  to  have  two 


The  Music,  1817-1903.  323 

singing  schools  each  week  for  the  instruction  of  the  choir,  for  which 
he  was  to  be  paid  $400  per  year  in  quarterly  instalments. 

In  the  autumn  of  1839,  six  members  of  the  choir  left  Buffalo,  and 
others  were  secured  to  fill  their  places.  The  record  mentions  no 
names,  but  the  choir  usually  consisted  of  ten  or  twelve  singers. 

On  the  first  Monday  in  December,  1841,  R.  H.  Heywood,  Henry 
Hamilton  and  Lester  Brace  were  appointed  as  the  music  committee. 

A  musical  storm-cloud  appears  at  this  time,  and  on  December  6, 
1841,  Mr.  Sheppard  resigned  as  organist,  his  resignation  taking  effect 
on  January  1,  1842,  at  which  time  the  parish  was  considerably  in  his 
debt. 

On  January  1 ,  1 842,  the  new  music  committee  employed  Emory  Taunt 
to  take  entire  charge  of  the  music  of  the  church.  Mr.  Taunt  was  to 
employ  an  organist  and  an  organ  blower,  and  also  to  lead  the  singing 
and  to  give  all  instruction  necessary  to  the  choir,  at  least  once  a  week, 
and  to  give  musical  instruction  in  the  Sunday  School  room,  and  keep 
the  organ  in  repair  and  tune.  The  first  organist  employed  by  Mr. 
Taunt  was  Mr.  Barton,  and  later  in  the  year  A.  L.  Webb  succeeded 
Mr.  Barton.  December  27,  1842,  the  music  committee  made  their 
report  saying  that,  in  spite  of  Mr.  Taunt's  faithful  and  zealous  efforts, 
they  had  "  not  fully  realized  their  expectation  of  durable  improve- 
ment"  in  the  music,  and  asking  that  a  new  committee  be  appointed. 
E.  S.  Warren,  Lester  Brace  and  Joseph  G.  Masten  were  then  appointed, 
and  they  discontinued  the  services  of  Mr.  Taunt,  January  1,  1843,  and 
employed  A  L.  Webb  to  play  the  organ  for  one  month,  after  which 
Mrs.  George  Moore  became  organist  and  leader  of  the  singing  until 
Easter.  For  lack  of  expert  attention  the  organ  had  become  badly  out 
of  repair,  and  in  March,  1843,  William  Williams  made  a  full  written 
report  on  its  condition,  in  which  he  referred  to  Mr.  Sheppard  as  "a 
long-tried  friend  of  our  parish." 

In  April,  1843,  at  the  vestry  election,  church  music  was  the  burning 
question  of  the  day,  and  fifty-seven  votes  were  cast,  being  about  three 
times  the  usual  number.     The  new  vestry  appointed  George  B.  Web- 


324  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

ster,  J.  A.  Barker  and  Josiah  Trowbridge  as  the  music  committee. 
The  organ  being  found  in  very  bad  condition,  from  amateur  attempts 
at  tuning,  they  were  given  authority  to  employ  a  competent  person  to 
have  it  repaired.  Mr.  Sheppard  was  engaged  to  do  this  work,  and 
was  also  reinstated,  from  Easter  Monday,  1843,  in  his  position  as  organ- 
ist, which  he  held  until  Easter,  1850. 

The  committee  suggested  that  it  might  be  advisable  to  pay  certain 
members  of  the  choir  who  were  not  members  of  the  church  and  whose 
services  were  especially  desirable.  Mrs.  Fallon  was  so  engaged  at 
Easter,  1843.  This  is  the  first  mention  of  a  paid  singer  in  St.  Paul's 
choir.  Referring  to  Mr.  Sheppard,  the  music  committee  said  :  "  The 
committee  are  also  of  the  opinion  that  the  services  of  a  person  well 
qualified  to  have  the  charge  and  direction  of  the  music  of  the  church, 
to  play  the  organ  and  to  be  depended  on  to  keep  it  in  tune  and  preser- 
vation, is  greatly  undervalued,  and  most  poorly  appreciated  ;  and 
when  to  these  qualifications  there  are  united  in  the  same  person  a 
devout  and  reverential  spirit  and  manner,  securing  respect  and  consti- 
tuting an  important  and  influential  example  in  the  church  and  especi- 
ally in  the  gallery,  where  there  is  more  likely  to  be  levity  and  a 
disregard  for  the  sacredness  of  the  place  —  the  value  and  importance 
of  such  an  individual  to  the  church  can  hardly  be  over-estimated." 

An  entry  of  28th  January,  1845,  says:  "For  one  flute  stop  to 
organ,  by  direction  of  the  vestry,  $50."  On  April  1,  1845,  an  agree- 
ment was  signed  between  Miss  E.  P.  Tryon  and  "St.  Paul's  Society 
for  her  singing  at  the  regular  services  of  said  church,"  at  $100  per 
year.     Miss  Tryon  sang  there  until  1850. 

In  the  choir,  in  the  middle  '40's,  Miss  Joy  sang,  Miss  Webster,  Miss 
Elizabeth  Hersee,  Mr.  Houghton,  A.  H.Caryl,  Hunting  S.  Chamberlain, 
Mr.  Hagar  and  others.  About  1845  Robert  Denton  sang  alto  in  the 
choir.  The  members  met  socially  and  for  practice  at  the  home  of 
George  P>. Webster,  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Swan  and  Franklin  streets 
—  where  the  Roman  Catholic  see  house  was  afterwards  built,  adjoining 
St.  Joseph's  Cathedral  ;    also  at   the  homes  of    R.  H.  Heywood  and 


The  Music,  iSiy-ipoj.  325 

A.  H.  Caryl.  The  choir  in  the  frame  church  was  a  voluntary  one, 
with  the  few  exceptions  referred  to.  During  the  last  year  in  the  frame 
church,  1849,  Mr.  Denton  was  assistant  organist  under  Mr.  Sheppard. 
One  of  the  drawings  made  in  1849  of  the  frame  church,  reproduced 
at  page  38,  shows  the  pipe  organ  in  the  gallery  over  the  main 
entrance,  at  the  east  or  Main  Street  end  of  the  edifice.  This  was  the 
loft  for  the  organ  and  choir  from  the  earliest  times. 

March  8,  1850,  the  building  committee  reported  the  sale  of  the 
frame  church  ;  the  bell,  organ,  font,  and  certain  other  furniture  belong- 
ing to  the  church  were  reserved.  The  frame  edifice  was  sold  to  the 
German  Evangelical  Church  of  Buffalo  (St.  Peter's),  and  the  last  ser- 
vice of  St.  Paul's  congregation  in  the  building  was  held  on  Sunday, 
March  17,  1850,  after  which  it  was  removed  to  Genesee  Street,  north- 
east corner  of  Hickory  Street,  where  it  was  occupied  as  St.  Peter's 
Church  until  1877.  The  corner  stone  of  the  new  stone  edifice  of  St. 
Paul's  was  laid  on  June  12,  1S50.  During  the  building  of  the  stone 
church  the  congregation  leased  Clinton  Hall,  on  the  southeast  corner 
of  Clinton  and  Washington  streets,  and  worshipped  there.  This  build- 
ing was  afterwards  known  as  St.  Pierre's  French  Roman  Catholic 
Church,  and  was  demolished  in  1900.  At  this  time,  Easter,  1850, 
James  D.  Sheppard  severed  his  more  than  twenty  years'  connection 
with  the  parish  as  organist.  His  letter  of  resignation  is  dated  Decem- 
ber 3,  1849,  to  take  effect  at  Easter.  Robert  Denton  succeeded  him 
as  organist  of  St.  Paul's,  at  Easter,  but  Mr.  Sheppard  sang  in  St.  Paul's 
choir  for  several  months  after  this  time,  and  later  became  the  organist 
of  Trinity  Church. 

James  D.  Sheppard  died  in  188 1,  aged  eighty-eight  years.  A  brass 
tablet  in  the  present  St.  Paul's  Church  records  his  long  service  as 
organist,  and  the  bequest  which  he  made  to  the  parish.    (See  page  293.) 

Robert  Denton  was  the  organist  in  Clinton  Hall.  Among  the  paid 
singers  at  this  time  appears  the  name  of  Mrs.  Eager. 

In  April,  1851,  although  the  new  church  edifice  was  not  yet  ready 
for  occupancy,  the  lease  of  Clinton  Hall  was  given  up.     The  organ 


326  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

was  removed  from  the  hall  to  the  basement  of  the  rectory  on  Pearl 
Street,  and  was  afterwards  sold  to  the  Presbyterian  Society  in  Fredo- 
nia,  N.  Y.,  for  $600.  The  members  of  the  congregation  attended 
Trinity  and  St.  John's  churches,  and  during  the  summer  of  1851  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  went  abroad. 

A  new  organ  was  needed  for  the  new  church  edifice,  and  in  May, 
1 85 1,  several  persons  agreed  to  loan  the  parish  $2,500,  for  the  purpose  ; 
the  organ  was  to  be  in  place  by  the  following  October,  and  to  be  the 
property  of  these  persons  until  paid  for  by  the  parish.  This  offer  was 
accepted  by  the  vestry. 

The  new  edifice  was  consecrated  on  Wednesday  morning,  October 
22,  185 1.  In  the  description  of  the  new  church,  quoted  earlier  in  this 
volume  (page  70),  from  the  Gospel  Messenger,  185 1,  the  organ  is  thus 
described  :  "The  organ  (a  powerful  and  fine-toned  instrument  from 
the  manufactory  of  House  &  Company,  Buffalo),  containing  thirty 
stops,  is  placed  over  the  vestry,  at  the  east  end  of  the  north  aisle,  and 
in  front  of  it  is  a  space  raised  one  step  and  enclosed,  for  the  singers." 

December  30,  185 1,  the  vestry  decided  that  the  new  organ  placed 
in  the  church  by  the  subscribers  to  the  organ  fund,  and  which  cost 
$2,500,  was  satisfactory,  and  it  was  accepted. 

The  choir  in  the  new  stone  church,  from  185 1  to  1857,  was  under 
Robert  Denton  as  organist ;  from  1853,  George  C.  Rexford  sang  bass 
and  was  director  and  leader  of  the  choir,  which  was  the  first  paid 
quartette  in  St.  Paul's.  Among  the  names  of  the  singers  we  find  Miss 
C.  L.  Case  of  Syracuse,  soprano  ;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  A.  Cross,  contralto, 
to  July,  1854  ;  Thomas  F.  Thornton,  tenor,  from  September,  1852,  to 
1857  ;  Miss  Susan  A.  Boss,  soprano  ;  Miss  Amanda  Allen  ;  in  1854, 
Miss  Whiting,  Miss  S.  Lucette  House,  contralto  for  several  years  ; 
Miss  Emily  H.  Parsons,  soprano,  to  May,  1855  ;  Miss  Helen  S.  Gillet 
sang  for  a  few  weeks  in  1855,  and  later,  Miss  Deborah  Scarborough 
was  soprano  to  June,  1856  ;  Miss  M.  R.  Birge  sang  until  1857. 

One  thousand  dollars  was  the  amount  appropriated  for  music  for 
the  year  beginning  at  Easter,  1853. 


The  Music,  i8iy-igoj.  327 

In  March,  1S55,  the  plan  was  mentioned  of  removing  the  organ 
from  its  position  near  the  chancel  to  a  gallery  to  be  built  in  the  west- 
erly end  of  the  church.  In  1856  this  question  was  still  under  discus- 
sion. Mr.  Upjohn,  the  architect  of  the  church,  was  consulted,  and 
advised  against  it  as  being  injurious  to  the  effect  of  the  building  as  a 
whole.  The  feeling  in  the  congregation  was  very  strong  against  the 
change,  and  the  vestry  finally  allowed  the  matter  to  rest  for  the  time. 

On  June  14,  1857,  Robert  Denton  resigned  as  organist  of  St.  Paul's, 
and  was  succeeded  in  the  position  by  Everett  L.  Baker,  on  June  21, 
1857.  George  C.  Rexford  continued  as  director  and  leader  of  the 
choir,  and  Miss  S.  L.  House  continued  to  sing.  Thomas  F.  Thornton 
resigned  his  position  in  the  choir  in  1857,  being  greatly  occupied  with 
superintending  the  installation  of  the  chiming  apparatus  for  the  new 
bells  of  St.  Paul's,  and  in  pealing  and  chiming  them. 

In  July,  1857,  Mr.  Dutton  of  Lockport  sang  tenor  in  the  choir,  fol- 
lowed, in  1858,  by  John  G.  Woehnert.  Miss  Anna  Poole  sang  soprano, 
and  Miss  S.  L.  House,  contralto. 

In  1858  Horace  F.  Kenyon  sang  bass,  Miss  Martha  Guild,  soprano, 
Miss  Julia  Farr,  contralto,  and  John  G.  Woehnert,  tenor.  Miss  Guild 
left  after  about  six  months,  and  later  the  choir  consisted  of  Miss  Mag- 
gie Smith,  soprano ;  Mrs.  George  Woehnert,  contralto  ;  John  G. 
Woehnert,  tenor  ;  H.  F.  Kenyon,  bass. 

In  July,  1859,  a  large  majority  of  the  vestry  considered  the 
removal  of  the  organ  to  the  west  gallery  as  necessary  ;  but  a  number 
of  the  congregation  were  still  strongly  opposed  to  this,  and  six  par- 
ishioners then  offered  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  music  up  to 
Easter,  i860,  if  the  vestry  would  allow  the  organ  to  remain  in  its  posi- 
tion adjoining  the  chancel.  The  vestry  agreed  to  this,  and  it  was 
decided  to  engage  a  suitable  leader,  who,  with  the  organist,  should 
conduct  the  music  and  lead  the  congregation  in  singing  the  hymns, 
etc.,  and  Horace  F.  Kenyon  and  John  G.  Woehnert  gave  voluntary 
assistance  in  singing  in  the  choir  for  six  months,  for  which  they 
received  the  thanks  of  the  vestry  in  April,  i860. 


328  History  of  St.  Paul 's  Church. 

This  experiment  of  "congregational  singing"  lasted  only  six 
months.  Miss  Anna  Poole  and  Miss  Howell  sang  in  the  choir  shortly 
after  this  time. 

Mr.  Kenyon  fell  ill  in  1862,  and  S.  E.  Cleveland  then  took  the 
position  of  bass. 

The  Gospel  Messenger  of  April  23,  1862,  has  the  following  in 
regard  to  music  at  St.  Paul's:  "The  Easter  Festival  of  the  Sunday 
School  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  on  Tuesday  evening,  attracted  a  very  large 
number  of  old  and  young,  sufficient  to  test  the  capacity  of  the  church 

—  the   scholars   alone    numbering    nearly  five    hundred The 

music  was  the  feature  of  the  evening The  choir,  which  is  one 

of  the  best  in  the  country,  was  assisted  by  many  of  our  vocalists,  the 

whole  being  under  the  direction  of    Everett   L.  Baker Mr. 

Blodgett,  the  organist  of  St.  John's,  relieved  Mr.  Baker  from  his  duties 
as  organist  during  the  evening.  The  solo  singers  were  Miss  Smith, 
Miss  Kimberly,  Miss  Hayden,  Miss  Ford,  Miss  Hollister,  and  Messrs. 

Tobias,  Cleveland,  Drake  and  Vining The  Welcome  Song  was 

a  beautiful  improvisation,  and  was  as  unexpected  as  it  must  have  been 
agreeable  to  Dr.  Shelton,  who  had  just  returned  to  the  city  after  sev- 
eral weeks'  absence.  It  was  arranged  by  the  organist  ....  and 
sung  by  the  '  Young  Choir,'  accompanied  by  one  of  Prince's  new 
style  organ  melodeons,  admirably  played   by  Miss    Edith    Kimberly 

(afterwards  Mrs.  Wm.  H.  Walker) The  chant,  Passover,  sung 

antiphonally,  was  magnificently  rendered The  Carol,  Last  and 

First,  consisted  of  six  exquisite  solos,  by  voices  in  different  parts  of 
the  church."  ....  The  paper  also  speaks  of  Hobart  Weed  in  con- 
nection with  the  singing  of  the  "Young  Choir." 

Everett  L.  Baker  was  the  first  organist  in  Buffalo  to  introduce  the 
especially  elaborate  music  at  the  Easter,  Christmas,  and  other  church 
festivals. 

The  change  so  long  agitated  was  finally  brought  about,  and  the 
organ  and  choir  were  removed  to  the  gallery  recently  built  for  them  at 
the  westerly  end  of  the  church,  at  the  close  of  the  year  1863. 


The  Music,  181J-1903.  329 

A  small  mixed  choir  was  organized  in  1864,  and  lasted  four  months. 
In  addition  to  the  regular  quartette  there  were  Miss  Mary  Hayden 
(afterwards  Mrs.  John  B.  Seymour),  soprano  ;  Miss  Julia  Hayden 
(afterwards  Mrs.  Benjamin  Hamilton),  contralto  ;  Miss  Hollister, 
Hobart  Weed  and  Mr.  Kenyon. 

The  treasurer's  report  for  the  year  ending  at  Easter,  1865,  shows 
the  disbursements  for  music  to  have  been  $1,096.19. 

At  Easter,  1865,  the  choir  was  again  reorganized.  Miss  Dellan- 
baugh  (afterwards  Mrs.  John  G.  Woehnert),  soprano  ;  Mrs.  George 
Woehnert,  contralto  ;  John  G.  Woehnert,  tenor  ;  and  George  Woeh- 
nert, bass. 

Referring  to  the  Christmas  music  at  St.  Paul's,  the  Co7nmercial  of 
December  30,  1865,  speaks  of  Everett  L.  Baker  as  organist,  and  of  the 
singing  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Woehnert,  complimenting  the  efforts 
of  "the  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  the  choir,"  but  says  a  quartette  is  not 
enough  to  fill  so  large  a  church.  The  same  paper  also  refers  to  a 
recent  evening  service  at  St.  Paul's,  when  the  bishop  preached,  and  the 
choir  loft  was  filled  with  singers,  who  sang  Luther's  grand  old  hymn, 
"  Ein'  feste  Burg  ist  unser  Gott,"  with  fine  effect,  making  the  arches 
ring  with  the  music.  One  of  the  critics  said,  "  How  much  better  music 
—  outside  of  the  ordinary  chants  —  sounds  from  a  choir  loft,  instead 
of  from  the  floor  of  the  church." 

A  feeling  of  dissatisfaction  with  quartette  choirs  would  seem  to  have 
been  somewhat  general  at  this  time.  Bishop  Potter  of  New  York  is 
quoted  as  denouncing  "operatic  singing"  in  the  churches.  A  trial 
of  boy  choirs  seemed  to  be  a  solution  of  the  difficulty. 

In  March,  1866,  the  music  committee  of  St.  Paul's  decided  upon 
having  a  double  quartette  choir  :  Miss  Sarah  A.  Barker  and  Miss  Sill, 
sopranos  ;  Mrs.  George  Woehnert  and  Miss  Ella  D.  Barker,  contraltos  ; 
John  Woehnert  and  Mr.  Kimball,  tenors  ;  George  Woehnert  and  Mr. 
Barker,  basses.     Everett  L.  Baker,  organist  and  director. 

The  Easter,  1866,  Sunday  School  Festival  was  a  memorable  one. 
The  Sunday  Schools  of  all  the  parishes  in  the  city  assembled  at  St. 


33°  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

Paul's,  and  over  fifteen  hundred  children  were  present,  each  Sunday 
School  marching  into  the  church  with  its  especial  banner.  Bishop 
Coxe  catechised  the  children  and  preached  the  sermon.  The  Easter 
Carols  were  excellently  given  under  the  direction  of  Everett  L.  Baker, 
the  organ  being  played  by  Robert  Denton.  An  innovation  at  this  serv- 
ice was  the  playing  of  one  of  the  carol  tunes  upon  the  chimes  in  the 
belfry,  after  which  the  children  sang  the  carol,  Easter  Bells. 

The  choir  of  St.  Paul's  in  1866  was  generally  commended  as  being 
the  best  "  the  church  has  had  for  many  a  year,"  and  giving  very  gen- 
eral satisfaction. 

In  March,  1867,  Everett  L.  Baker  resigned  his  position  at  St.  Paul's, 
after  being  organist  there  for  ten  years,  and  was  succeeded  by  C.  B. 
Schuyler.  At  the  Easter  Sunday  School  Festival  in  1867,  1,600  chil- 
dren, representing  the  different  Sunday  Schools  of  the  city,  sang  at  St. 
Paul's.  The  music  was  spoken  of  as  excellent.  J.  R.  Blodgett  con- 
ducted, and  Mr.  Schuyler  presided  at  the  organ.  "  Miss  Sill  led  the 
singing  in  a  very  spirited  and  pleasing  manner."  ....  The  Easter 
music  at  St.  Paul's  generally  gave  great  satisfaction,  especially  the 
organ  playing  of  Mr.  Schuyler,  whose  engagement  as  organist  termi- 
nated on  that  day.  He  was  followed  by  W.  W.  Killip  from  Geneseo, 
an  Englishman  by  birth,  who  came  highly  recommended  for  his  skill  in 
drilling  choirs  and  his  understanding  of  church  music.  Mr.  Killip 
was  also,  for  a  time,  instructor  in  languages  at  the  Heathcote  School, 
then  on  the  north  side  of  Niagara  Street,  between  Carolina  and  Vir- 
ginia streets.  A  quartette  was  engaged,  but  it  was  decided  to  begin 
the  training  of  a  chorus  of  boys.  The  quartette  consisted  of  Mrs. 
William  O.  Brown,  Jr.,  soprano  ;  Miss  Alice  Wells,  contralto  ;  P.  Mac- 
farlane,  tenor;  Horace  F.  Kenyon,  bass.  Mr.  Schuyler  became  the 
organist  of  St.  John's  Church. 

In  May,  1867,  "the  experiment  of  a  boy  choir  was  tried  in  St. 
Paul's,  ....  and  was  considered  successful  for  a  first  attempt.  It 
will  yet  take  some  time  before  a  cathedral  service  can  be  performed." 
This  choir  sang  in  the  west  organ  gallery,  and  was  not  "  vested." 


The  Music,  i8ij-igoj.  331 

In  1867,  Emil  Telle  sang  tenor  at  St.  Paul's  ;  Miss  Stille  was  one  of 
the  principal  singers  there  at  that  time,  also  Miss  Sarah  Barker.  Mrs. 
William  O.  Brown  was  re-engaged.  Hobart  Weed  first  sang  tenor  in 
the  regular  quartette,  and  became  a  member  of  the  music  committee, 
about  Easter,  1867.  He  has  continued  to  take  an  active  and  most 
self-denying  part  in  the  maintenance  and  improvement  of  the  music 
of  St.  Paul's  from  that  time  to  the  present. 

In  June,  1867,  Mr.  Killip  left  St.  Paul's.  Mr.  Blodgett  acted  tem- 
porarily as  organist. 

December,  1867,  it  was  said,  "The  New  York  City  Episcopal 
churches  have  now  generally  adopted  the  boy  choir.  There  are  eleven 
of  these  now  —  the  mania  is  spreading." 

The  Christmas,  1867,  music  at  St.  Paul's  was  conducted  by  J.  R. 
Blodgett.  Mrs.  Brown,  Mr.  Telle  and  Mr.  Kenyon  sang  solos.  Mr. 
Kenyon  had  trained  a  chorus  of  boys  who  sang  Gregorian  chants, 
carols,  etc.,  and  he  was  much  commended  for  his  success  in  so  short  a 
time  of  training. 

March  25,  1868,  the  vestry  appropriated  $1,600  for  music  for  the 
coming  year,  and  their  thanks  were  voted  to  Hobart  Weed  and  Henry 
Bull  for  efficient  and  most  acceptable  work  as  music  committee  during 
the  past  year.  It  was  determined  to  make  the  reputation  of  St.  Paul's 
choir  the  first  in  the  diocese. 

At  Easter,  1S68,  S.  C.  Campbell,  the  well-known  opera  singer,  was 
heard  at  St.  Paul's  ;  Mrs.  William  O.  Brown  (Mrs.  Imogene  Brown) 
also  sang,  as  a  member  of  the  choir.  Lloyd's  Te  Deum  was  given  by 
the  quartette.  "The  boys  under  Mr.  Kenyon's  management  were 
excellent."  In  the  evening,  Bishop  Coxe  preached,  and  the  church 
was  crowded,  aisles  and  all.  J.  R.  Blodgett  was  in  charge  of  the 
Easter  music. 

At  this  time  Mrs.  Imogene  Brown  went,  for  a  short  time,  to  Chicago, 
and  her  place  at  St.  Paul's  was  filled  by  Miss  Louise  Palmer.  Mrs. 
Brown  returned  to  St.  Paul's  a  few  months  later. 

After  April   12,  1868,  Charles  H.  Beare  of  Utica  became  organist 


332  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

at  St.  Paul's.  Mrs.  Imogene  Brown,  soprano,  and  Miss  Alice  Wells, 
contralto,  were  retained.  Mr.  Telle  resigned,  also  Mr.  Kenyon.  It 
was  decided  to  have  the  quartette  and  a  boy  choir,  as  usual. 

In  May,  1868,  Mr.  Beare  was  obliged,  on  account  of  ill  health,  to 
give  up  his  duties  for  a  time,  and  Mr.  Schuyler  was  engaged  as  organ- 
ist for  three  months.  In  July,  1868,  Mr.  Beare  being  no  better, 
resigned  as  organist,  and  in  July,  1869,  he  died,  aged  twenty-eight 
years.  During  the  short  time  his  health  permitted  him  to  play  he  gave 
entire  satisfaction.  On  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Beare  in  July,  1868,  J. 
R.  Blodgett  was  appointed  organist,  and  Mr.  Kenyon  continued  as 
conductor  and  teacher  of  the  boy  choir. 

Mr.  Cooper,  "  a  tenor  from  Utica,"  sang  at  this  time  at  St.  Paul's  ; 
Miss  Anna  Mischka  sang  soprano,  followed  in  September  by  Miss  Pit- 
kin of  Buffalo,  afterwards  Mrs.  John  V.  Tifft. 

At  Christmas,  1868,  the  music  was  conducted  by  J.  R.  Blodgett. 
Alfred  H.  Pease  directed  the  rendition  of  his  Bomtm  Est.  Solos  were 
sung  by  Mrs.  Imogene  Brown  and  Miss  Wells,  and  at  the  close  of  the 
service  the  boy  choir  sang  "  Hark,  the  Herald  Angels  Sing." 

Early  in  1869,  Mrs.  Imogene  Brown  left  St.  Paul's  choir,  going 
later  to  New  York  City,  where  she  sang  with  great  success  at  Christ 
Church,  St.  Bartholomew's  and  other  New  York  churches,  command- 
ing large  salaries  and  being  much  appreciated.  Mrs.  Brown's  sweet 
voice  and  exquisitely  clear  enunciation  are  held  in  grateful  remem- 
brance by  those  who  were  fortunate  enough  to  hear  her.  Many  more 
recent  singers  seem  to  forget  that  the  stately  and  beautiful  liturgy  of 
the  church  is  intended  to  be  plainly  "understanded  of  the  people." 
In  some  of  the  modern  choral  services,  highly  praised  by  musical 
critics,  the  words  of  the  service  are  quite  unintelligible. 

At  Easter,  1869,  Mr.  Van  Vliet,  formerly  of  St.  Peter's  Church, 
Rochester,  became  organist  of  St.  Paul's.  Mr.  Yerkes,  bass  ;  Miss 
Wells,  contralto  ;  John  G.Woehnert,  tenor.  "  The  boys  will  be  retained 
and  retrained,  and  a  volunteer  chorus  choir  formed  in  addition  to  the 
paid   quartette."     Miss  Reynolds  sang  soprano,  followed  in  May  by 


The  Music,  iSiy-ipoj.  333 

Miss  Joyce.  In  July,  1869,  Mr.  Van  Vliet  was  obliged  to  resign  on 
account  of  ill  health,  and  during  the  summer  his  place  was  temporarily 
filled  by  Mr.  Witherspoon  and  Mr.  Whitney  of  Burlington.  The 
Christmas,  1869,  music  was  under  the  charge  of  Charles  W.  Sykes  as 
organist  and  director.  There  was  a  chorus  in  addition  to  the  regular 
quartette. 

On  January  9,  1870,  the  new  organist  at  St.  Paul's,  H.  G.  Gilmore, 
took  charge,  with  a  choir  exclusively  of  men  and  boys,  the  boys  paid, 
the  men  mostly  volunteer.  At  Easter,  1870  (April  17th),  the  new  male 
choir  sang  for  the  first  time,  consisting  of  thirty  boys  and  twelve  men, 
including  Doctors  H.  R.  Hopkins,  M.  B.  Folwell,  G.  C.  Daboll,  and 
Messrs.  George  J.  Sicard,  Hobart  Weed,  Edward  C.  Walker,  Richard 
R.  Cornell  and  others.  This  choir  was  not  "vested,"  and  sang  in  the 
west  gallery.  The  Commercial  says  :  "The  attendance  at  St.  Paul's  on 
Easter  was  immense  —  many  turned  away  ;  the  boys  were  inclined  to 
shout  too  much,  but  the  music  generally  was  very  good."  September 
1,  1870,  H.  G.  Gilmore  resigned  as  organist,  and  was  succeeded  imme- 
diately by  Lucien  G.  Chaffin,  M.  A.,  formerly  an  instructor  at  Hobart 
College.  Mr.  Chaffin  was  an  able  musician,  and  was  also,  in  1870-71, 
instructor  in  Latin,  Greek  and  German,  and  from  September,  187 1,  to 
August,  1874,  head  master  of  the  Heathcote  School,  Buffalo. 

At  this  time  the  keyboard  of  the  organ  was  reversed,  so  that  the 
organist  could  sit  with  his  back  to  the  organ  and  face  towards  the 
chancel  end  of  the  church. 

The  Christmas,  1870,  music  was  rendered  by  the  choir  of  men  and 
boys,  under  the  direction  of  L.  G.  Chaffin,  organist,  as  was  that  of 
Easter,  187 1,  and  was  much  commended.  Later  in  April  it  was  decided 
to  retain  twelve  of  the  boys  and  to  add  six  or  more  mixed  voices. 

In  January,  187 1,  a  quartette  was  formed  at  St.  Luke's  Church, 
consisting  almost  entirely  of  former  members  of  St.  Paul's  choir: 
Miss  Forsyth,  soprano  ;  Miss  Wells,  contralto  ;  Hobart  Weed,  tenor  ;  and 
F.  W.  Fiske,  bass.  Mr.  Fiske  was  shortly  followed  by  George  J. 
Sicard.     Joseph  Mischka  was  organist  at  St.  Luke's. 


334  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

In  May,  187 1,  Mr.  Chaffin  resigned  from  St.  Paul's.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  William  Kaffenberger,  the  choir  consisting  of  a  quartette  : 
Miss  Anna  Mischka,  soprano  ;  Mrs.  W.  A.  Sheldon  (formerly  Miss 
Julia  Sweet),  contralto  ;  F.  W.  Bindemann,  tenor  ;  and  A.  B.  Kellogg, 
bass.  The  Commercial  says  :  "  The  chorus  choir  and  boys  have  scat- 
tered like  chaff  in  a  high  wind."  The  Commercial's  musical  notes 
state  that  from  July  21,  187 1,  the  choir  of  St.  Luke's  alternated  with 
that  of  St.  Paul's  at  the  two  churches,  until  October  1st. 

During  the  summer  of  187 1,  Miss  Clute,  afterwards  Mrs.  Seiden- 
striker,  took  Miss  Anna  Mischka's  place  in  the  choir,  Miss  Mischka 
returning  (as  Mrs.  Blackmar)  in  November. 

At  Christmas,  1871,  the  quartette  at  St.  Paul's  was  as  follows: 
Mrs.  Blackmar  (formerly  Miss  Anna  Mischka),  soprano  ;  Miss  Emily 
Mischka,  contralto  ;  F.  W.  Bindemann,  tenor  ;  A.  B.  Kellogg,  bass  ; 
William  Kaffenberger,  organist. 

At  Easter,  1S72,  Miss  Edith  Wheaton  was  soprano,  and  Mrs.  Scho- 
field  (formerly  Miss  S.  L.  House)  contralto.  In  January,  1872,  Mr. 
Chaffin  became  organist  at  St.  Luke's,  but  immediately  after  Easter, 
1872,  he  returned  to  St.  Paul's,  succeeding  Mr.  Kaffenberger  as  organ- 
ist. The  quartette  at  St.  Luke's  disbanded.  Miss  Alice  Wells  came 
back  to  St.  Paul's,  as  did  Mr.  Weed,  who,  with  Dr.  Daboll,  sang  tenor, 
with  C.  M.  Curtiss  as  bass.  Later,  in  April,  Miss  Lizzie  Forsyth 
became  soprano  at  St.  Paul's.  In  May,  1872,  at  Whitsunday,  a  chorus 
choir  was  added  to  the  regular  quartette,  consisting,  among  others,  of 
Mrs.  Daboll,  Miss  Kimberly,  Miss  Cowden,  Mrs.  A.  R.  Davidson, 
Miss  Persch,  Miss  Bessie  Coxe,  Dr.  G.  C.  Daboll,  Dr.  Hopkins,  Mr. 
Woodworth,  E.  C.  Walker,  Robert  Palen,  Richard  R.  Cornell  and 
others.  This  was  the  beginning  of  the  famous  chorus  choir,  which 
was  at  once  organized  into  a  choral  society.  A  note  on  the  pro- 
grammes at  this  time  says  :  "Those  having  good  voices  and  ability  to 
read  plain  music  fairly,  and  desirous  of  entering  the  choir,  are  invited 
to  address  St.  Paul's  Cathedral  Choir." 

This  chorus  choir  became  very  popular  among  the  younger  mem- 


The  Music,  1817-1903.  335 

bers  of  the  congregation,  and  the  list  includes  the  names  of  sons  and 
daughters  of  many  of  the  principal  families  in  the  church.  The  choir 
was  entertained  socially  at  the  homes  of  prominent  parishioners,  and 
from  time  to  time  concerts  were  arranged  in  Buffalo  and  in  neighbor- 
ing towns,  at  which  the  choir  sang  for  the  benefit  of  struggling  par- 
ishes. The  constant  practice  required  and  given  resulted  in  the 
marked  proficiency  of  the  organization  as  a  whole,  and  in  valuable 
musical  training  for  the  individual  members.  Among  the  names  in 
the  large  chorus  choir  in  iS73-'74— '75,  etc.,  were  :  Mrs.  G.  C.  Daboll, 
Mrs.  John  B.  Seymour,  Mrs.  R.  Kendrick,  Mrs.  George  Coit,  Mrs.  A. 
R.  Davidson,  the  Misses  Emelie  Flach  (afterwards  Mrs.  Leonard 
Dodge),  Serene  Kibbe,  Addie  Cowden,  Kate  C.  Remington  (after- 
wards Mrs.  James  Nuno),  Isabella  P.  Keene,  Minnie  Smith,  Hattie  Lay, 
Alice  C.  Barton,  Rebecca  Jones,  Bessie  Cleveland  Coxe,  Sara  Reming- 
ton, Minnie  Atwater  (Mrs.  Lyman),  Isadore  Spencer,  Minnie  Mixer, 
Lucia  Welch,  Nellie  Sage,  Gertrude  Sidway  (afterwards  Mrs.  Chaffin), 
Bessie  Bird,  Mary  Cleveland  Coxe,  Julia  Atwater,  Asenath  C.  Holmes, 
Leonora  Godwin,  Kittie  Thompson,  Emma  Burtis,  Lillie  Lyman,  and 
Dr.  Daboll,  Edward  C  Walker,  Robert  Palen,  Dr.  Charles  Cary, 
Trumbull  Cary,  William  Woltge,  Dr.  H.  R.  Hopkins,  C.  K.  Remington, 
Frank  W.  Fiske,  Stanley  B.  Cowing,  Robert  Codd  and  many  others. 

Except  at  church  festivals,  the  chorus  choir  sang  at  the  Sunday 
morning  services  only  ;  at  the  evening  services  the  music  was  gener- 
ally rendered  by  a  double  quartette. 

Numerous  churches  in  Buffalo  and  in  neighboring  towns  have  prof- 
ited by  the  fine  musical  instruction  given  at  St.  Paul's,  many  of  the 
singers  so  trained  being  able  later  to  take  prominent  positions  in  other 
choirs. 

Mrs.  Kendrick  was  a  soloist  for  a  short  time,  in  June  and  July,  1872. 

In  November,  1872,  Hobart  Weed,  for  the  music  committee, 
reported  to  the  vestry  that  the  organ,  which  had  been  in  use  for 
twenty-one  years,  was  in  bad  condition  and  that  a  new  one  was  required. 
It  was  decided  to  raise  funds  by  subscripton  for  a  new  organ. 


336  History  of  St.  PauVs  CJiurch. 

At  Christmas,  1872,  in  addition  to  the  regular  quartette,  a  mixed 
chorus  of  thirty  voices  rendered  the  music,  under  the  direction  of  the 
organist,  L.  G.  Chaffin.     A  harp  was  also  introduced. 

Commenting  on  the  Easter,  1873,  music  at  St.  Paul's,  the  Commer- 
cial says  :  "  The  Easter  music  at  St.  Paul's  was  more  important  than 

ever  before Sir  Henry  Smart's   Te  Deum  was  sung.     A  more 

powerful  organ  is  needed  for  so  large  a  chorus,  and  one  is  to  be  forth- 
coming.    Immense  congregation  at  Easter."  .... 

In  April,  1873,  the  vestry  returned  their  thanks  to  Hobart  Weed 
and  Dr.  G.  C.  Daboll  for  their  services  on  the  music  committee,  and 
$1,700  was  appropriated  to  pay  for  the  music  for  the  coming  year. 
William  H.  Walker  and  Howard  H.  Baker,  from  the  organ  committee, 
reported  that  they  had  obtained  subscriptions  from  forty-five  members 
of  the  congregation,  amounting  to  $6,555,  and  that  a  contract  had 
been  made  with  E.  &  G.  G.  Hook  &  Hastings  of  Boston  for  a  new 
organ,  to  cost  $7,500,  to  be  in  place  by  September  1,  1873.  The 
Buffalo  Courier  of  September  12,  1873,  gives  a  full  description  of  the 
new  organ  at  St.  Paul's,  "  now  being  put  up  in  the  church."  It  was 
known  as  size  No.  20,  with  three  manuals,  and  there  were  2,196  pipes. 
The  organ  was  as  modern  in  construction  and  equipment  as  could  be 
made  at  the  time.  The  design  was  in  harmony  with  the  architecture 
of  the  church  ;  the  case  was  twenty-two  feet  in  height  and  nineteen 
feet  four  inches  in  width,  and  twelve  feet  six  inches  in  depth,  the 
highest  of  the  displayed  pipes  rising  ten  feet  above  the  case.  The 
same  paper  further  says  :  "The  choir  has  been  enlarged  to  about  forty 
voices,  and,  although  not  quite  complete,  has  already  secured  much  of 
the  best  local  talent  of  the  city." 

After  Easter,  1873,  Miss  Alice  Wells,  the  contralto  singer,  went  to 
New  York,  but  Miss  Forsyth  continued  as  soprano  until  September  1st, 
when  she  went  abroad,  and  some  years  later,  became  the  wife 
of  Signor  Hugo  Augier.  Miss  Ella  P.  Conger  became  the  con- 
tralto singer  in  April,  1873,  Miss  Lottie  Snow  of  Warsaw  substituting 
for  her  until  June,  1873.     Miss  Belle  Brown  of  Lockport  sang  soprano 


The  Music,  i8iy-igoj.  337 

in  September  and  October  ;  and  after  November  ist  Miss  Frances  Dav- 
enport of  Geneva  became  soprano,  but  could  sing  only  one  Sunday  on 
account  of  illness.  Miss  Davenport  never  regained  her  health,  and 
died  not  long  afterwards.  Mrs  George  Coit  kindly  consented  to  take 
her  place  in  the  quartette,  and  sang  until  January,  1874,  when  Mrs.  G. 
F.  Staylin  of  Worcester,  Mass.,  became  the  solo  soprano  at  St.  Paul's. 

In  1873,  Hobart  Weed  and  Dr.  G.  C.  Daboll  constituted  the  music 
committee,  and  at  Easter,  1874,  in  their  report  to  the  vestry,  they  said  : 
"  Mr.  E.  C.  Walker  is  entitled  to  great  credit  for  the  interest  taken  in 
the  choir  ;  we  ask  you  to  associate  him  with  us  on  the  music  commit- 
tee." This  was  accordingly  done.  In  July,  1873,  one  of  the  Buffalo 
papers  says  :  "  At  morning  service  to-morrow  ....  will  be  ren- 
dered the  Inflammatus,  solo  and  chorus  from  the  Stabat  Mater.     This 

is  the  last  singing  of  the  chorus  choir  until  September The 

success  of  the  choir  since  its  formation  has  been  beyond  all  expectation, 
and  the  music  rendered  has  been  of  a  truly  cathedral  character."  .  .  . 

The  Commercial  of  October  4,  1873,  says  :  "  Hook's  workmen  have 
finished  St.  Paul's  organ."  .... 

Ex-President  Millard  Fillmore  died  March  8,  1874,  and  on  March 
1 2th  were  held  the  funeral  services  at  St.  Paul's.  Mrs.  Staylin  being 
ill  and  Miss  Conger  away,  the  choir  was  composed  of  Miss  Christine 
Dossert,  soprano  ;  Miss  Rose  Anderson,  contralto  ;  Mr.  Curtiss  and 
Mr.  Weed,  and  the  chorus  choir.  The  service  was  very  beautiful  and 
impressive,  and  a  muffled  peal  was  rung  on  the  bells.  Miss  Dossert 
took  Mrs.  Staylin's  place  for  some  weeks,  at  this  time. 

In  April,  1874,  the  appropriation  for  church  music  for  the  coming 
year  was  $1,800,  and  the  same  amount  was  appropriated  in  1876.  The 
choir  at  Easter,  1874  (April  5th),  was  :  Mrs.  Staylin,  Miss  Ella  P.  Con- 
ger, C.  M.  Curtiss,  Hobart  Weed,  and  a  mixed  chorus  of  fifty-one 
voices,  all  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Chaffin.  "The  Heavens  are 
Telling  "  was  rendered  with  great  power  and  effect,  and  Mrs.  Staylin 
sang  Handel's  "  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth."  Miss  Conger 
remained  at  St.   Paul's  until  the  last  Sunday  in  May,  1874,  when  she 


338  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

resigned,  to  the  regret  of  the  congregation  and  choir.  She  afterwards 
became  Mrs  Charles  W.  Goodyear.  Miss  Rose  Anderson  was  engaged 
as  solo  contralto,  June  i,  1874,  and  the  chorus  choir  sang,  as  usual, 
until  July. 

Mr.  Chaffin  resigned  his  position  in  the  Heathcote  School,  in 
August,  1874,  and  went  to  New  York  City,  returning  to  Buffalo  three 
weeks  later,  and  resuming  his  position  as  organist  at  St.  Paul's.  Dur- 
ing his  absence  his  place  was  temporarily  filled  by  Mr.  Peabody.  Mrs. 
Staylin  left  St.  Paul's  in  September,  1874,  becoming  soprano  at  St. 
John's  ;  her  place  at  St.  Paul's  was  temporarily  filled  by  Miss  Jennie 
H.  Thompson  of  Lockport,  beginning  in  October.  The  Christmas, 
1874,  music  was  rendered  by  Miss  Thompson,  Miss  Rose  Anderson, 
Mr.  Curtiss,  Mr.  Weed,  and  a  mixed  chorus  of  fifty  voices.  Mr.  Chaf- 
fin was  organist.  A  part  of  Wahle's  orchestra  assisted  the  chorus 
under  the  direction  of  Signor  Nuno.  The  programme  included  the 
Hallelujah  Chorus  from  the  Messiah,  Berthold  Tour's  Te  Deum,  and 
the  anthem,  "  Lo,  the  Angel  of  the  Lord,"  from  the  Messiah,  all  given 
with  orchestra  accompaniment. 

This  was  probably  the  first  time  an  orchestra  was  ever  heard  in  St. 
Paul's. 

Late  in  1874,  Dr.  Daboll  left  St.  Paul's  to  take  charge  of  musical 
affairs  at  the  Church  of  the  Ascension. 

For  the  three  months  preceding  Easter,  1875,  ^rs-  George  Coit 
took  the  place  of  leading  soprano,  singing  also  in  the  quartette  at  the 
Easter  service,  March  28th,  the  other  leading  singers  being  the  same 
as  at  Christmas.  They  were  assisted  by  a  mixed  chorus  of  forty-eight 
voices.  At  this  time,  Easter,  1875,  was  sung  Sullivan's  Festival  Te 
Deum,  written  in  commemoration  of  the  recovery  of  the  Prince  of 
Wales.  As  rendered  by  St.  Paul's  choir,  it  was  compiled  from  the 
original  and  arranged  for  the  organ  by  Mr.  Chaffin,  and  the  orchestral 
parts  for  eight  pieces  were  written  by  Signor  James  Nuno.  The 
necessary  condensation  was  most  skilfully  done.  The  original  score 
of  this  famous  Te  Deum  of  seventy-six  pages  (about  one-half  of  which 


The  Music,  1817-igoj.  339 

was  given  by  St.  Paul's  choir),  was  written  for  a  great  chorus,  full 
orchestra,  military  band  and  organ,  and  was  first  rendered  at  the  festi- 
val held  at  the  Crystal  Palace  at  Sydenham,  near  London,  May  1,  1872. 
On  December  20,  1875,  the  distinguished  composer  having  learned  of 
the  performance  of  the  Te  Deum  by  St.  Paul's  choir,  and  of  how 
greatly  it  was  admired  in  Buffalo,  wrote  a  cordial  letter  of  appreciation, 
which  was  published  in  the  Buffalo  Courier  of  January  13,  1876. 

The  Commercial  of  March  29,  1875,  says  :  "The  performance  of 
the  Sullivan  Te  Deum  (at  St.  Paul's)  left  nothing  to  be  desired."  Mr. 
Chafhn  was  organist  and  director,  and  Signor  Nuno  conducted  the  Te 
Deum,  and  Handel's  Hallelujah  Chorus,  which  was  given  with  great 
spirit  and  effect.  At  the  evening  service,  the  grand  Gloria  from 
Mozart's  Twelfth  Mass  was  sung.  All  were  given  with  orchestra  and 
organ.     The  church  was  crowded  at  both  services. 

In  May,  1875,  Miss  Emma  L.  Underhill  of  Bath  became  solo 
soprano,  the  rest  of  the  quartette  remaining  unchanged.  Louis  H. 
Plogsted  was  engaged  as  cornet  soloist  in  October,  1875. 

At  Christmas,  1875,  at  St.  Paul's,  Gounod's  Sane  t  us  was  sung  ; 
and  "  Praise  the  Lord,"  from  Spohr's  Last  Judgment,  was  given  at 
the  Christmas  Eve  and  Christmas  morning  services,  with  orchestra. 
Sullivan's  Festival  Te  Deum  was  repeated,  and  received  great  commen- 
dation from  the  musical  critics.  A  chorus  of  fifty  assisted  the  regular 
quartette,  and  Mr.  Chaffin  and  Signor  Nuno  conducted. 

At  the  informal  opening  of  the  new  City  Hall,  on  Friday  evening, 
March  10,  1876,  St.  Paul's  chorus  choir  was  present  by  special  request, 
and  rendered  the  music  for  the  occasion,  singing  "To  thee,  oh  Coun- 
try," "My  Country,  'tis  of  thee,' \ and  the  Doxology. 

At  Easter,  1876  (April  16th),  the  same  quartette  with  a  mixed 
chorus  of  fifty  voices  sang,  with  orchestra.  The  Commercial  said  : 
"  The  music  at  St.  Paul's  was  very  fine."  Gounod's  Te  Deum  was 
sung,  also  Berthold  Tour's  anthem,  "  Blessing,  Glory,  Wisdom,"  both 
with  orchestra.  Mr.  Chaffin's  Gloria  in  Excelsis  was  also  given  with 
orchestra — "it  is  a  really  fine  composition."     At  the  evening  service, 


34-0  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

Gounod's  Sanctus,  from  the  St.  Cecilia  Mass,  was  sung  with  orchestra,  and 
Mrs.  George  Coit  sang,  by  request,  "  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth." 

On  July  4,  1876  —  the  centennial  year — a  special  service,  arranged 
by  Bishop  Coxe,  was  held  at  St.  Paul's  at  9.00  A.  M.  The  bishop  and 
ten  of  the  clergy,  with  Dr.  Shelton  as  dean,  were  met  at  the  door  by 
the  vestry,  and  the  service  began  with  the  singing  of  the  "  Non  nobis 
Domine  "  (Psalm  cxv.)  as  a  processional.  Gounod's  Te  Deum  was  sung 
by  the  large  chorus  choir,  accompanied  by  the  organ  and  the  74th  Regi- 
ment Band,  which  rendered  a  stately  voluntary,  introducing  "  Bin'  feste 
Burg  ist  unser  Gott."  The  service  was  majestic  and  impressive  through- 
out. The  Commercial  of  July  5,  1876,  in  its  report,  said:  "Those 
who  bore  a  part  in  this  solemnity  will  find  pleasure  in  speaking  of  it 
in  after  years,  as  a  truly  historic  event,  and  worthy  of  imitation  here- 
after, on  all  great  occasions  of  public  thanksgiving,  ....  and 
as  the  Church  thus  lent  her  ancient  offices  to  the  sanctifying  of  a 
grand  national  event,  we  could  not  but  reflect  upon  the  sublime  asso- 
ciations of  such  a  service.  Henry  V.,  after  Agincourt,  is  made  to  say  : 
'  Do  we  all  holy  rites  ; 

Let  there  be  sung  Non  Nobis  and  Te  Deum.'  "  .  .  .  . 

At  Christmas,  1876,  the  music  was  rendered  by  the  same  quartette, 
the  mixed  chorus  of  forty-nine  voices,  and  the  Germania  Band  orches- 
tra, under  Signor  Nuno,  with  Lucien  G.  Chaffin  as  organist  and  Louis 
H.  Plogsted,  cornetist.  Among  other  selections,  Handel's  Hallelujah 
Chorus  was  given.  A  few  days  later,  in  the  night  of  December  29, 
1876,  occurred  the  appalling  railroad  disaster  at  Ashtabula,  Ohio,  in 
which  many  lives  were  lost  ;  and  among  the  killed  was  Miss  Minnie 
Mixer,  the  only  daughter  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  S.  F.  Mixer,  and  for  several 
years  one  of  the  most  popular  members  of  St.  Paul's  chorus  choir.  A 
very  lovely  and  gifted  young  girl,  her  sudden  death  came  as  a  personal 
blow  to  the  community.  A  memorial  service  for  her  was  held  at  Trinity 
Church,  and  a  similar  service  was  held  at  St.  Paul's  in  memory  of  Miss 
Mixer  and  two  other  victims  of  the  terrible  disaster,  John  S.  Pickering 
and  Louis  J.  Barnard,  a  brother  of  Col.  A.  J.  Barnard  of  St.  Paul's  vestry. 


The  Music,  1817-igoj.  341 

In  February,  1877,  permission  was  given  by  the  vestry  to  the  Rev. 
S.  H.  Gurteen  to  extend  the  organ  loft  four  feet  forward,  and  also  to 
place  a  chancel  organ  over  the  vestry  room  in  the  space  occupied  by 
the  old  organ  prior  to  its  removal  in  1S63  to  the  west  gallery.  This 
new  organ  cost  about  $1,200,  and  was  first  used  at  Easter,  1877.  At 
this  time  the  carved  black  walnut  reredos,  newly  illuminated  in  gold 
and  colors,  was  unveiled.  There  was  an  immense  attendance  at  the 
Easter  services.  The  two  organs  were  used,  and  the  music  was  ren- 
dered by  the  same  quartette  (except  that  Mr.  Curtiss  was  ill,  and 
Edward  C.  Walker  took  his  place  as  bass),  and  a  chorus  of  fifty-one 
voices,  with  a  small  orchestra.  L.  G.  Chaffin,  the  organist,  was  assisted 
by  Paul  Henrich,  and  L.  H.  Plogsted  was  the  solo  cornetist  and  leader 
of  St.  Paul's  Cathedral  orchestra.  Randegger's  anthem  from  the 
150th  Psalm  was  splendidly  sung,  as  was  Dudley  Buck's  Te  Dei/m. 
The  new  chancel  organ  was  used  with  fine  effect  in  Rimbault's  Jubi- 
late Deo.  The  Doxology  at  the  end  of  the  sermon  was  also  accom- 
panied by  both  organs. 

April  16,  1877,  tne  thanks  of  the  vestry  were  extended  to  "the 
music  committee,  chorus  choir,  and  all  who  have  aided  them,  for  the 
unexcelled  music  for  the  past  year."  In  June,  shortly  before  the 
chorus  choir  disbanded  for  the  summer,  Mrs.  Imogene  Brown  sang  the 
solo  in  the  Inflammatus  at  St.  Paul's.  F.  C.  M.  Lautz  first  sang  in 
St.  Paul's  about  June,  1877,  and  continued  as  baritone  soloist 
for  thirteen  years.  In  September,  1877,  Miss  Underhill  left  for 
Europe,  and  Miss  A.  L.  Hodges  sang  soprano  until  April  1,  1S78, 
when  Miss  Carrie  Butterfield  became  the  solo  soprano,  just  before 
Easter.  Charles  M.  Curtiss,  for  several  years  the  efficient  basso  of  the 
quartette,  was  ill  and  unable  to  sing  at  Easter,  1877,  and  his  death,  at 
the  age  of  twenty-eight  years,  took  place  on  June  4,  1877. 

At  Christmas,  1877,  F.  C.  M.  Lautz  was  the  baritone  soloist  and 
Edward  C.  Walker  sang  bass  in  the  quartette,  with  Hobart  Weed  as 
tenor.  Mr.  Walker  and  Mr.  Weed  gave  their  services  for  many  years. 
The  chorus  at  Christmas  consisted  of  fifty-five  men  and  women. 


342  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

January  i,  1878,  Lucien  G.  Chaffin  left  St.  Paul's,  becoming  organ- 
ist at  St.  John's,  and  later  going  to  New  York  City.  He  was  succeeded 
at  St.  Paul's,  for  a  few  weeks  only,  by  Dr.  James  Peck  of  New  York  ; 
and  John  H.  Norman  then  became  organist. 

March  30,  1878,  the  vestry  authorized  the  Rev.  S.  H.  Gurteen  to 
organize  a  full  choral  service  for  St.  Paul's,  to  be  used  for  the  Sunday 
vesper  service,  and  also  to  make  such  alterations  in  the  chancel  as  he 
should  deem  necessary  for  this  purpose  At  Easter,  1878  (April  21st), 
the  music  was  under  the  direction  of  John  H.  Norman,  with  George 
W.  Fargo  as  assistant  organist,  and  Louis  H.  Plogsted  as  solo  cornet- 
ist  and  leader  of  St.  Paul's  Cathedral  orchestra.  The  singing  was 
by  the  quartette,  Miss  Butterfield,  Miss  Anderson,  Messrs.  Weed 
and  Walker,  and  a  mixed  chorus  of  fifty-six  voices,  with  F.  C.  M. 
Lautz  as  baritone  soloist.  Miss  Lilian  B.  Norton  of  Boston  was  the 
special  soloist  at  St.  Paul's  at  Easter,  1878.  Miss  Norton,  in  1879, 
took  the  stage  name  of  Giglio  Nordica —  northern  lily  —  and  later 
became  the  famous  prima  donna,  known  as  Madame  Nordica.  In  the 
afternoon,  the  choral  vesper  service  was  held,  the  first  vested  choir  in 
St.  Paul's  rendering  the  music. 

At  Christmas,  1878,  the  regular  quartette,  with  a  mixed  chorus  of 
thirty-six,  sang,  the  organist  being  John  H.  Norman.  Mr.  Norman 
left  St.  Paul's  immediately  after  Christmas,  and  Friedrich  Federlein  sub- 
stituted for  a  few  weeks.  Miss  N.  T.  Roesser  also  sang  from  July, 
1878,  to  April,  1879.     Miss  Welch  sang  in  January,  1879. 

In  January,  1879,  Gerrit  Smith  became  the  regular  organist.  The 
quartette  consisted  of  Miss  Butterfield,  soprano  ;  Miss  Anderson,  con- 
tralto ;  F.  C.  M.  Lautz,  solo  baritone  ;  Hobart  Weed,  tenor  ;  and  Ed- 
ward C.  Walker,  bass  ;  Mr.  Weed  and  Mr.  Walker  gave  their  services. 
At  Easter,  1879,  a  mixed  chorus  of  forty  voices  assisted  the  quartette, 
and  an  orchestra  of  twelve  pieces,  under  Plogsted,  helped  to  render 
the  music.  Gerrit  Smith  was  organist  and  director  and  George  W. 
Fargo,  assistant  organist.  IMogsted's  Te  Deuut,  especially  written  for 
this  occasion,  was  sung.     In  the  afternoon,  the  vested  choir  of  thirty- 


The  Music,  1817-1903.  343 

two  men  and  boys,  under  Robert  Palen,  precentor,  sang  the  choral  ves- 
per service,  one  of  the  features  of  which  was  the  singing  of  the 
Doxology,  accompanied  by  the  gallery  and  chancel  organs  and  the 
brass  instruments  of  the  orchestra.  "  The  music  was  superbly  ren- 
dered and  the  church  was  crowded." 

The  music  committee  for  1879  —  appointed  in  April  —  consisted  of 
L.  C.  Woodruff,  Hobart  Weed,  Edward  C.  Walker,  M.  B.  Moore  and 
T.  Guilford  Smith.  May  12,  1879,  the  vestry  appropriated  $1,500  for 
the  music.  At  Christmas,  1879,  the  chorus  choir  had  become  greatly 
reduced  in  size,  being  composed  of  four  sopranos,  three  contraltos,  four 
tenors,  and  four  basses.  There  was  an  orchestra  of  ten  pieces  under 
Plogsted.  The  afternoon  vesper  service  was  sung  by  the  vested  choir 
of  twenty  boys  and  sixteen  men  under  Allen  G.  Bigelow  as  precentor. 
Gerrit  Smith  was  the  organist  and  choir-master. 

Miss  Anderson  resigned,  to  take  effect  January  1,  1880.  Edward 
C.  Walker  and  Hobart  Weed  resigned  at  this  time,  receiving  the 
thanks  of  the  vestry  for  their  long-continued,  voluntary  service  in  the 
choir.  The  choir  was  reorganized,  and  the  entire  muscial  control 
placed  in  the  hands  of  the  organist,  Gerrit  Smith. 

At  Easter,  1880,  March  28th,  there  was  no  quartette.  Miss  Butter- 
field  was  the  solo  soprano  and  there  was  a  mixed  chorus  of  thirty-four 
voices,  conducted  by  Carl  Adam.  Gerrit  Smith  was  the  organist  and 
director,  and  George  W.  Fargo  the  assistant  organist.  Goss's  Te 
Deum,  "composed  on  the  occasion  of  Her  Majesty's  Thanksgiving, 
at  St.  Paul's  Cathedral,  London,"  was  sung.  At  the  vesper  service,  the 
vested  choir  of  thirty-eight  men  and  boys  sang,  with  Allen  G.  Bigelow 
and  Robert  Palen  as  precentors. 

The  Rev.  S.  H.  Gurteen  left  St.  Paul's  in  April,  1880.  Mr.  Smith, 
the  organist,  resigned,  and  was  succeeded  in  the  position  by  Joseph 
Mischka.  Miss  Butterfield  resigned,  and  shortly  after  became  Mrs. 
Gerrit  Smith,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  going  later  to  New  York. 

The  music  committee  after  Easter,  1880,  consisted  of  Howard  H. 
Baker,  A.  J.  Barnard,  Henry  R.  Howland,  Hobart  Weed   and  Edward 


344  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

C.  Walker.  At  the  beginning  of  their  term  of  office  they  found  the 
church  practically  without  an  organist  or  choir.  Joseph  Mischka  was 
engaged  as  organist  the  first  Sunday  after  Easter,  1880,  Miss  Pauline 
Bonney  as  leading  soprano,  Miss  Ida  Hornung  as  contralto,  and  Adam 
Lautz,  tenor.  A  volunteer  chorus  was  secured  by  Mr.  Mischka. 
Allen  G.  Bigelow  continued  to  drill  and  conduct  the  boy  choir,  and 
under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  Bigelow  and  Mr.  Mischka  the  choir 
steadily  improved  and  the  afternoon  choral  services  attracted  large 
congregations  each  Sunday. 

In  September,  1880,  it  was  resolved  by  the  vestry  that  the  interests 
of  the  church  and  the  Sunday  School  required  the  efficient  mainte- 
nance of  a  full  choral  service  on  Sunday  afternoon. 

At  Christmas,  1880,  an  orchestra,  under  Louis  Plogsted,  assisted 
the  double  quartette  and  mixed  chorus  of  thirty-two  voices.  Miss 
Marie  Schelle  sang  on  Christmas  Eve  and  Christmas  morning.  The 
choral  service  was  sung  in  the  afternoon  of  Sunday  (the  next  day)  by 
the  vested  choir  of  thirty -six  men  and  boys,  under  Allen  G.  Bigelow  and 
Robert  Palen  as  precentors.     Joseph  Mischka  was  organist  and  director. 

On  January  11,  1881,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton  resigned  as  rector,  and 
was  made  honorary  rector.     Miss  Getheford  sang  to  January  30,  1881. 

At  Easter,  1881,  the  chorus  of  thirty-four  voices  and  quartette, 
conducted  by  Signor  Nuno,  sang,  and  Joseph  Mischka  was  organist 
and  director.  Miss  Schelle  was  the  solo  soprano  and  F.  C.  M.  Lautz 
the  solo  baritone.  The  quartette  was  Miss  Ida  A.  Snyder,  soprano  ; 
Mrs.  R.  H.  Heussler  (formerly  Miss  Ida  Hornung),  contralto  ;  Adam 
Lautz,  tenor  ;  and  Edward  C.  Walker,  bass.  In  the  afternoon,  the 
vested  choir  rendered  the  choral  service,  under  Allen  G.  Bigelow  and 
Robert  Palen  as  precentors.  N.  P.  Curtice  sang  tenor  in  the  quartette 
about  June  25,  1881.     Miss  C.  E.  Sears  sang  in  September,  1881. 

October  1,  1881,  Hobart  Weed  was  elected  chairman  of  the  music 
committee  in  place  of  Edward  C.  Walker,  resigned.  The  vestry 
resolved  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Walker  "for  his  unceasing  and  untir- 
ing efforts  to  advance  and  sustain  the  music  of  St.  Paul's  Church." 


The  Music,  i8ij-igoj.  345 

In  December,  1SS1,  the  vestry  agreed  to  have  built  a  raised  plat- 
form, extending  the  chancel  floor  into  the  nave,  in  order  to  accommo- 
date the  vested  choir.     This  work  was  done  early  in  1882. 

At  Christmas,  1S81,  Miss  Snyder  was  soprano  ;  Miss  Annie  F.  La 
Mont,  contralto  ;  N.  P.  Curtice,  tenor  ;  and  E.  C.  Walker,  bass  ;  F. 
C.  M.  Lautz  was  solo  baritone.  There  was  a  mixed  chorus  of  thirty- 
one  voices.  Signor  Nuno's  Te  Deum  and  Jubilate  Deo,  and  the  Handel 
Hallelujah  Chorus  were  sung  at  the  morning  service.  Even-song  was 
rendered  by  the  vested  choir  of  about  forty-five  voices.  Joseph 
Mischka,  organist  and  director  ;  Hobart  Weed,  director  of  vested  choir  ; 
and  Robert  Palen,  precentor.     Louis  H.  Plogsted,  leader  of  orchestra. 

At  Easter,  1SS2,  Joseph  Mischka  was  organist,  and  there  was  a 
quartette  and  chorus  of  thirty-two  voices.  The  quartette  was  the 
same  as  at  Christmas,  1881,  except  that  F.  P.  Turner  had  become  the 
tenor.  Hobart  Weed  frequently  gave  his  services  as  tenor  in  the 
quartettes  during  these  years.  The  afternoon  vesper  service  was  sung 
by  the  vested  choir  of  thirty-six  men  and  boys,  with  Robert  Palen  as 
precentor. 

In  May,  1882,  the  Rev.  John  W.  Brown,  D.  D.,  became  rector  of  St. 
Paul's.  Dr.  Brown  had  strong  musical  likings,  and  had  made  a  deep 
and  long-continued  study  of  church  music  especially,  and  under  his 
fostering  care  the  musical  portions  of  the  services  at  St.  Paul's  steadily 
improved.  In  June,  1882,  the  vestry  appropriated  $2,500  for  the 
music  for  the  coming  year. 

Beginning  in  1882,  Mrs.  Henry  W.  Burt,  being  appointed  by 
Dr.  Brown,  voluntarily  looked  after  the  welfare  of  the  boys  in  the 
choir.  She  visited  them  in  sickness,  taught  them  the  service,  invited 
them  to  her  home,  accompanied  them  on  their  summer  outings,  be- 
friended them  in  every  way,  and  gained  the  obedience  and  love  of 
every  boy  in  the  choir.  Her  valuable  assistance  was  much  appreci- 
ated by  Mr.  Mischka,  the  organist.  Mrs.  Burt  continued  this  self- 
denying  work  until  about  the  year  1890,  at  which  time  Mr.  Gilbert  was 
the  organist.     Miss  Mary  Lovering  succeeded  Mrs.  Burt. 


346  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

The  Christmas  Eve,  1882,  music  at  St.  Paul's,  on  Sunday  afternoon 
(Christmas  Eve)  was  rendered  by  the  vested  choir  of  men  and  boys, 
assisted  by  a  quartette  of  brass  instruments  ;  and  on  Monday  morning, 
Christmas  Day,  the  full  chorus  choir  sang,  with  the  organ  and  an 
orchestra  of  ten  pieces.  Joseph  Mischka  was  organist  and  director, 
and  William  Kaffenberger  assistant  organist.  The  Christmas  Eve 
service  was  attended  by  an  immense  congregation,  and  "  the  music  was 
magnificently  rendered,"  as  was  also  that  on  Christmas  Day. 

At  Easter,  1S83,  both  services  were  sung  by  the  vested  choir  of 
forty-nine  men  and  boys.  Simon  Fleischmann  assisted  Joseph  Mischka 
as  organist,  and  Hobart  Weed  was  director  of  the  vested  choir.  Robert 
Tolmie  was  the  solo  cornetist.  There  was  no  quartette  or  mixed  cho- 
rus at  Easter,  1883.  In  March,  1883,  Hobart  Weed,  Edward  C.  Walker 
and  Dr.  Henry  R.  Hopkins  were  appointed  the  music  committee. 
After  Easter,  1883,  Miss  Ella  Wirt  of  Albion  became  the  solo 
soprano. 

For  some  years  after  Easter,  1883,  no  authorized  published  pro- 
grammes of  the  music  rendered  at  the  great  festivals  of  the  church 
appear  to  have  been  issued  by  St.  Paul's.  This  makes  it  especially 
difficult  to  follow  the  personnel  of  the  various  choirs,  as  the  news- 
paper accounts  are  most  fragmentary,  and  often  incorrect,  and  there 
are  practically  no  other  records  which  are  accessible.  This  change 
in  regard  to  the  publication  of  musical  programmes,  quite  generally 
adopted  throughout  the  diocese,  at  this  time,  appears  to  have  had  its 
inception  among  the  clergy  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.  It  was  thought  that 
the  extent  to  which  the  advertising  of  the  music  had  been  at  times 
carried  encouraged  a  wrong  motive  for  church  going,  affected  the 
character  of  the  music  itself,  and  made  it  unduly  prominent.  Miss 
Wirt  sang  to  May  1,  1883  ;  also  Miss  L.  C.  Welch  and  Mrs.  Jesse 
Peterson,  in  May  and  June. 

In  June,  1883,  there  was  a  chorus  choir  of  about  twenty  men  and 
women,  most  of  whom  were  paid.  Among  the  names  are  found  Miss 
Julia  Strasmer,  Mrs.  Archibald,  Miss  Inman,   Miss  Augusta  Mischka, 


The  Music,  1 817-1903.  347 

Simon  Fleischmann,  George  T.  Moseley,  F.  P.  Turner,  Miss  Blanche 
Smith  and  others.  This  choir  continued,  with  some  changes,  to  1885, 
at  the  morning  services. 

On  October  n,  1883,  occurred  the  death  of  the  venerable  and 
beloved  honorary  rector  of  the  parish,  the  Rev.  William  Shelton,  D.  D., 
in  the  eighty-sixth  year  of  his  age.  On  October  15th,  his  funeral  was 
held  in  the  church  where  he  had  for  so  many  years  been  rector.  An 
immense  congregation  filled  the  building,  and  many  were  unable  to 
gain  admittance.  The  bells  which  he  had  loved  were  tolled.  The 
music  was  rendered  with  impressive  effect  by  a  full  chorus  choir  in  the 
organ  loft,  and  the  vested  choir  of  fifty-two  boys  and  twelve  men  in 
the  chancel,  accompanied  by  both  organs.  Mrs.  Wells  B.  Tanner  sang 
"  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth."  After  the  prayers  that  followed, 
"Nearer,  My  God,  to  Thee"  was  sung,  Mrs.  Tanner  singing  the  first 
verse,  then  the  chorus  and  surpliced  choir,  first  alternating  and  then 
together.    In  1883,  rooms  for  the  vested  choir  were  built  in  the  basement. 

At  Christmas,  1883.  Mrs.  Jesse  Peterson  and  Miss  Clara  Barnes 
sang  solos,  and  carols  were  given  by  the  boy  choir  ;  Joseph  Mischka 
was  organist  and  director,  and  there  was  an  orchestra  of  ten  pieces. 
Plogsted's  Te  Deum  and  anthem  were  sung.  Simon  Fleischmann  was 
assistant  organist.  In  February,  1884,  Mrs.  T.  P.  Vaille  became  the 
solo  soprano.  At  Easter,  1884  (April  13th),  Sullivan's  Festival  Te 
Deum  was  sung,  with  quartette,  consisting  of  Mrs.  T.  P.  Vaille, 
soprano  ;  Mrs.  R.  H.  Heussler,  contralto  ;  Hobart  Weed  and  Edward 
C.  Walker.  F.  C.  M.  Lautz,  baritone  soloist.  A  chorus  choir  of  forty 
also  assisted,  including  many  well-known  singers.  Joseph  Mischka 
was  conductor  and  organist,  with  Simon  Fleischmann  as  first  assistant 
and  Miss  Bianca  Fleischmann  as  second  assistant  organist.  R.  J.  Tol- 
mie  was  the  cornetist,  and  L.  H.  Plogsted  was  the  leader  of  the 
orchestra.  The  vested  choir  sang  the  vesper  service  at  4.00  P.  M. 
The  church  was  crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity  at  both  services,  and 
the  music  was  enthusiastically  praised  by  the  critics.  "  The  Easter 
service  of  song  was  pre-eminently  successful  in  every  way." 


348  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

In  May,  1884,  the  new  music  committee  was  Hobart  Weed,  Ed- 
ward C.  Walker,  Dr.  H.  R.  Hopkins,  A.  J.  Barnard  and  James  R. 
Smith.  The  same  committee  also  served  in  1S85,  18S6,  1887,  1888. 
In  May,  1889,  Edmund  Hayes  was  added  to  the  committee. 

At  Christmas,  1884,  the  music  was  rendered  by  a  quartette,  chorus, 
and  vested  choir,  and  Plogsted's  orchestra  of  ten  pieces,  and  "  was  of 
a  high  order  of  excellence.  Mr.  Mischka  conducted,  and  Mr.  Kaffen- 
berger  was  assistant  organist.  The  singing  of  the  boy  choir  was  a 
beautiful  feature."  The  solos  were  by  Mrs.  Vaille,  Miss  Elliott,  Mr. 
Lautz,  J.  H.  Williams  and  E.  C.  Walker.  During  1S84,  Miss  Julia 
Strasmer,  Mrs.  Jesse  Peterson,  Miss  Seaman  and  Mrs.  Heussler  sang. 

At  the  morning  service  at  Easter,  1885  (April  5th),  Sullivan's  Te 
Deum  and  Gounod's  Sanctus  were  rendered,  the  singing  of  Mrs.  Vaille 
and  F.  C.  M.  Lautz  being  especially  commended.  Plogsted's  orchestra 
of  ten  pieces  assisted,  Mr.  Mischka  conducted,  and  Andrew  T.  Webster 
was  assistant  organist.  Mr.  Webster  had  just  been  appointed  organist 
at  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  for  the  ensuing  year.  The  boys  sang 
at  the  offertory,  and  also  at  the  early  celebration  of  the  Holy  Com- 
munion, which  was  a  choral  service  ;  the  usual  afternoon  choral  serv- 
ice was  also  held. 

At  the  Christmas,  1885,  services,  there  was  a  full  chorus  and  orches- 
tra, and  a  quartette.  Miss  Grace  Wadsworth  sang,  also  Mrs.  William 
N.  McCredie  and  F.  C.  M.  Lautz.  Mr.  Kaffenberger  was  assistant 
organist,  and  Mr.  Mischka  conducted. 

In  March,  1886,  Mrs.  Fredericks  was  engaged  as  contralto  at  St. 
Paul's.  Miss  Gussie  H.  Sears  sang  soprano  from  March,  1886,  to 
October  1st. 

At  Easter,  April  25,  1S86,  the  organ,  quartette,  and  chorus  of  fifty 
were  assisted  by  Plogsted's  orchestra  of  eleven  pieces.  The  quartette 
was  Miss  Sears,  soprano  ;  Miss  Grace  Wadsworth,  Messrs.  Weed  and 
Walker.  Mrs.  Crosby  Adams  played  the  organ  and  Joseph  Mischka 
conducted.  At  Easter,  1886,  the  trio,  "Lift  thine  eyes,"  from  Elijah, 
was  sung  by  three  of  the  boys  of  the  choir,  Bert  Smith,  J.  Clark  Mil- 


The  Music,  1817-190J.  349 

som,  and  Allan  Farr,  and  was  considered  so  remarkable  a  performance 
for  boys  that  they  were  requested  to  repeat  it  at  a  public  concert  given 
by  the  Buffalo  Liedertafel.  Among  the  boy  sopranos  in  the  vested 
choir  at  this  time  was  Percy  Lapey,  now  a  well-known  local  singer.  In 
May,  1 886,  the  vestry  voted  their  "warmest  thanks  to  Messrs.  Hobart 
Weed  and  Edward  C.  Walker."  On  Sunday  evening,  May  29,  1886,  a 
special  and  notable  choral  service  was  held  at  St.  Paul's  for  the  officers 
and  men  of  the  65th  Regiment,  of  which  the  Rev.  Dr.  Brown  was 
chaplain.  The  service  was  an  elaborate  one,  and  the  regimental  band 
assisted. 

At  Christmas,  1886,  the  chancel  choir  of  forty  boys  and  twelve  men 
sang  at  the  choral  celebration  of  the  Holy  Communion  at  midnight  on 
Christmas  Eve.  On  Christmas  day,  the  mixed  chorus  of  forty  ren- 
dered the  music,  assisted  by  Plogsted's  orchestra.  Mrs.  McCready, 
soprano  ;  Mrs.  Fredericks,  contralto  ;  Messrs.  Weed  and  Walker,  and 
F.  C.  M.  Lautz.     Baumbach's  Te  Deum  was  sung. 

At  Easter,  April  10,  1887,  Plogsted's  Te  Deum  was  given.  There 
was  an  excellent  quartette  and  chorus  choir,  Joseph  Mischka  conduct- 
ing, and  Mrs.  Crosby  Adams  at  the  organ.  The  solos  in  the  Te  Deum 
were  sung  by  Mrs.  William  N.  McCready,  soprano  ;  Mrs.  A.  S.  Fred- 
ericks, contralto  ;  Hobart  Weed,  tenor  ;  and  Edward  C.  Walker,  bass. 
F.  C.  M.  Lautz  was  the  baritone  soloist.  The  boy  choir  sang  carols  at 
the  offertory,  and  repeated  them  at  the  choral  Even-song  in  the  after- 
noon.    The  first  Shelton  memorial  windows  were  unveiled. 

In  May,  1887,  it  was  proposed  in  the  vestry  meeting  to  have  the 
vested  chancel  choir  at  the  Sunday  morning  services  ;  but  it  was 
decided  not  to  do  so.  Three  thousand  dollars  were  appropriated  for 
the  music  for  the  ensuing  year. 

The  work  of  the  two  choirs  at  St.  Paul's  made  heavy  demands  upon 
the  time  of  the  organist,  and,  with  the  increased  number  of  services, 
Mr.  Mischka  found  that  it  would  be  impossible  for  him  to  give  proper 
attention  to  the  music  at  the  church  without  resigning  some  of  his 
other  musical  work.     He  did  not  feel  justified  in  doing  th's,  and  there- 


350  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

fore,  in  November,  1887,  he  tendered  his  resignation  as  organist  of  St. 
Paul's,  to  take  effect  at  any  time  before  Easter  when  his  successor 
should  be  secured.  Mr.  Mischka's  resignation  was  much  regretted, 
not  only  because  of  his  musical  ability  but  also  on  account  of  his  uni- 
form courtesy  and  his  consideration  for  others.  He  continued  to  play 
until  February  12,  1888,  at  which  time  Charles  S.  Carter  became  organ- 
ist and  director  at  St.  Paul's,  Mr.  Mischka  becoming,  at  that  time, 
organist  at  the  Delaware  Avenue  Methodist  Church,  where  he  still  is. 

April  1,  1888,  Easter  Day,  there  was  an  early  choral  celebration  of 
the  Holy  Communion,  Morning  Prayer  at  10.30,  and  choral  Even-song 
at  4.00  P.  M. —  with  Evening  Prayer  at  7.30  P.  M.  Mr.  Carter  was  the 
organist,  and  John  Lund  directed,  with  an  orchestra  of  ten  pieces. 
The  music  was  "  of  an  unusually  high  order."  Mrs.  Fredericks  sang 
Holden's  Resurrection,  with  exquisite  violin  obligato,  and  F.  C.  M. 
Lautz  sang  Gilchrist's  The  Alleluia.  The  anthem  Christ  our  Passover, 
with  full  chorus,  and  solos  by  Mrs.  McCready  and  Edward  C.  Walker, 
"was  a  magnificent  finale."  April  7,  1888,  John  Lund  was  engaged  at 
St.  Paul's  to  take  charge  of  the  choir. 

After  Easter  (April  1),  1888,  Miss  Gertrude  L.  Sears  became  the 
leading  soprano  at  St.  Paul's,  and  Mrs.  Fredericks,  the  leading  con- 
tralto, resigned. 

April  25,  1888,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Brown  resigned  his  rectorship  of  St. 
Paul's,  to  take  effect  on  the  first  of  the  following  June,  in  order  to 
become  the  rector  of  St.  Thomas's  Church,  New  York  City. 

On  Thursday,  May  10,  1888,  Ascension  Day,  St.  Paul's  Church  was 
destroyed  by  fire.  The  congregation  afterwards  worshipped  at  the 
Temple  Beth  Zion  (the  Jewish  synagogue,  at  that  time  on  Niagara 
Street,  where  the  Masonic  Temple  now  stands),  during  the  rebuilding 
of  the  church  edifice. 

On  the  Sunday  following  the  fire,  May  14,  188S,  the  services  were 
held  at  the  Temple  Beth  Zion,  but  the  chimes  of  the  ruined  church, 
themselves  uninjured,  pealed  out,  calling  the  people  to  worship.  Dr. 
Brown  conducted   the  choral   Even-song.     May  27,  1888,  Mr.  Carter 


The  Music,  1 817-1903.  351 

resigned  as  organist,  and  Miss  Marie  McConnell  took  his  place,  with 
John  Lund  as  director.  The  choral  vesper  services  were  discontinued 
after  June  17,  1888,  in  Temple  Beth  Zion.  Miss  Gertrude  L.  Sears 
was  soprano  until  February  14,  1889.  Miss  A.  M.  Gates  sang  in 
August,  1888;  also,  P.  G.  Lapey,  Mrs.  Hancock  Rice,  Miss  Eckart, 
and  others. 

The  Easter  services,  April  21,  1889,  were  held  in  the  basement  of 
the  church,  then  in  process  of  reconstruction  after  the  fire.  There 
was  a  large  congregation.  Under  Mr.  Lund's  able  direction  "the 
music  by  the  boy  choir  was  of  a  high  order  of  excellence,"  but  no 
especial  effects  were  attempted.  Miss  McConnell  was  organist.  Mr. 
Lund  continued  at  St.  Paul's  until  October,  1889. 

In  September,  1889,  Samuel  J.  Gilbert  was  appointed  organist  and 
choir-master,  being  the  first  to  hold  that  position  in  the  restored 
church.  His  father  was  W.  B.  Gilbert,  organist  of  Trinity  Chapel, 
New  York  City.  Miss  McConnell  continued  at  St.  Paul's  until  April, 
1890. 

The  restored  St.  Paul's  was  finished  and  ready  for  occupancy  late 
in  December,  1889,  and  on  January  3,  1890,  the  new  edifice  was  for- 
mally reopened  and  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  Almighty  God.  No 
organ  was  placed  in  the  west  gallery,  as  formerly.  The  new  chancel 
organ  was  a  Hook  &  Hastings,  and  was  tuned  to  French  pitch.  The 
quartette  and  mixed  chorus  choir  were  not  continued  after  the  restored 
church  was  used,  the  musical  part  of  all  the  services  being  rendered 
by  a  full,  vested,  chancel  choir  of  men  and  boys. 

In  the  rebuilding  of  the  church  special  provision  was  made  for  the 
accommodation  of  a  vested  choir,  the  chancel  was  widened  and  made 
considerably  deeper,  and  divided  into  choir  and  sanctuary,  the  choir 
portion  having  seats  and  stalls  for  the  singers.  The  processional 
cross,  carried  by  the  crucifer  in  the  procession  of  the  vested  choir, 
was  first  used  in  St.  Paul's  under  the  rector,  the  Rev.  Henry  A.  Adams, 
at  Easter,  1890.  On  April  6,  1890,  the  first  Easter  in  the  restored 
church,  the  morning  service  and  choral  Even-song  were  both  attended 


352  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

by  very  large  congregations.  The  music  was  by  the  vested  choir 
under  the  direction  of  the  organist,  Samuel  J.  Gilbert.  Hobart  Weed 
and  Edward  C.  Walker  both  sang  in  the  vested  choir  after  the  restora- 
tion of  the  church. 

At  Easter,  1891,  the  music  for  the  Holy  Communion  service  in 
E  flat  was  written  by  the  organist,  Samuel  J.  Gilbert,  especially  for  St. 
Paul's  choir,  and  was  sung  on  this  occasion  for  the  first  time. 

About  this  time  the  solo  singing  of  Thornton  Smith,  one  of  the  boy 
sopranos,  was  much  praised.  Mr.  Gilbert  was  organist  at  St.  Paul's 
from  September,  1889,  until  Easter,  1892,  when  he  was  followed  by  E. 
Wesley  Pyne,  who  served  about  ten  months,  and  left  early  in  1893. 
In  July,  1892,  the  Rev.  J.  A.  Regester  became  the  rector.  Andrew  T. 
Webster  became  organist  and  choir-master  February  1,  1893,  and  has 
filled  the  position  most  acceptably  from  that  date  to  the  present.  The 
records  of  the  choir,  carefully  kept  by  Mr.  Webster  from  1893,  have 
been  of  much  assistance  in  preparing  the  latter  portion  of  this  account 
of  the  music. 

The  music  committee  in  1891  consisted  of  Edmund  Hayes,  A.  J. 
Barnard,  James  R.  Smith  and  Sheldon  T.  Viele  ;  Hobart  Weed 
resigned  in  May,  1891,  but  was  again  on  the  committee  in  January, 
1892  ;  in  April,  1892,  Edward  C.  Walker  was  added. 

In  1893  the  choir  consisted  of  twenty-three  boys  and  fourteen  men  ; 
the  three  crucifers  were,  Guy  C.  Boughton,  George  Messer,  and  N. 
Orsini  de  Bock.  In  the  autumn  of  1893,  Miss  Harriet  Welch  (now 
Mrs.  B.  F.  Spire)  was  engaged  as  solo  soprano  and  continued  as  such 
until  April  5,  1896.  Miss  Ada  Prentice  (now  Mrs.  Davidson)  was  con- 
tralto for  a  short  time  during  the  winter  of  1893. 

In  1894,  there  were  twenty-eight  boys  and  twelve  men,  "and  in 
addition  to  this  regular  vested  choir,  for  the  sake  of  variety  in  the 
music,  we  have  the  services  of  Miss  Welch,  soprano  ;  "  and,  beginning 
December  7,  1894,  Miss  Clara  Russell  (now  Mrs.  Carlton  White)  was 
contralto,  and  sang  until  November  30,  1896.  At  Easter,  1894,  the 
Communion  service   was  Gounod's   St.  Cecilia  in  D,  complete.      The 


3  "1 

D.  - 

<  *d 

o  CO 


The  Music,  i8ij-igoj.  353 

women  of  the  choir  sang  in  the  chancel,  but  did  not  enter  in  the  pro- 
cessional. 

October  4,  1895,  E.  E.  Tanner  was  engaged  as  bass  singer  in  the 
quartette,  and  sang  until  April  23,  1899. 

In  1895,  the  choir  was  substantially  the  same,  and  in  1896  there 
were  twelve  men  and  thirty  boys  ;  Mrs.  William  Boughton  was  engaged 
to  take  Mrs.  Spire's  place  as  soprano,  April  10,  1896,  and  sang  until 
April  18,  1897. 

January  31,  1896,  Frederick  Elliott  became  the  tenor,  singing  until 
September  30,  1896.  "  During  last  winter  (1896)  and  again  this  season 
(1897)  our  organist,  Andrew  T.  Webster,  has,  in  addition  to  his  many 
regular  duties  in  connection  with  the  services  and  training  of  the  choir, 
given  an  organ  recital  every  Sunday  evening  for  half  an  hour  before 
the  service.  Many  avail  themselves  of  the  privilege  thus  afforded." 
These  recitals  have  been  continued  to  the  present  time  (1903). 

About  1896,  further  changes  in  the  basement  of  the  church  were 
made  for  the  better  accommodation  of  the  vested  choir. 

The  music  committee  in  1896  consisted  of  Hobart  Weed,  Edmund 
Hayes,  James  R.  Smith,  Sheldon  T.  Viele  and  Philip  S.  Smith.  The 
same  committee  served  in  1897,  1898  and  1899. 

January  10,  1897,  occurred  the  deeply-deplored  and  untimely  death 
of  Edward  C.  Walker,  who  had  been  for  so  many  years  a  member  of 
the  earlier  choirs,  and  connected  with  the  musical  matters  of  the 
church,  and  a  member  of  many  of  the  music  committees.  (See  page 
217.) 

January  12,  1897,  J.  F.  Thomas  succeeded  Mr.  Elliott  as  tenor, 
singing  until  April  10,  1898. 

February  28,  1897,  the  evening  of  Quinquagesima  Sunday,  the 
cantata  of  The  Holy  City,  by  Alfred  R.  Gaul,  was  sung  in  the  church, 
under  Mr.  Webster's  direction,  with  Miss  M.  Agatha  Bennett  at  the 
organ.  On  this  occasion  the  vested  choir  was  assisted  by  a  volunteer 
chorus  of  about  forty  mixed  voices.  To  accommodate  these  extra 
singers,  seats,  arranged  like  those  of  the  vested  choir,  were  placed  in 


354  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

the  nave  immediately  in  front  of  the  choir  portion  of  the  chancel. 
There  were,  in  all,  about  eighty  voices,  and  the  organ  alone  was  used 
to  accompany  the  singers.  The  music  was  very  impressively  and  rev- 
erently sung. 

On  April  n,  1897,  the  evening  of  Palm  Sunday,  the  cantata  of 
The  Crucifixion,  by  Sir  John  Stainer,  was  sung  in  the  church,  under 
Mr.  Webster's  direction,  with  Henry  S.  Hendy  at  the  organ.  The 
vested  choir  was  assisted,  as  before,  by  a  volunteer  chorus. 

December  1,  1899,  Miss  Katheleen  Howard  became  the  contralto 
soloist,  and  sang  until  November  3,  1901. 

December  31,  1899,  A  Christmas  Cantata,  by  Pearce,  was  sung  in 
the  church,  Mr.  Webster  conducting,  Miss  Bennett  at  the  organ,  and  a 
mixed  chorus  assisting  as  before.  This  cantata  was  repeated  the  fol- 
lowing Sunday  evening. 

March  16,  1900,  Miss  Julia  Agnes  O'Connor  became  the  solo 
soprano,  still  retaining  the  position.  Two  sopranos,  Miss  O'Connor  and 
Miss  Mildred  D.  Graham,  and  two  contraltos,  Miss  Howard  and  Miss 
Gertrude  A.  Cashmore,  sang  in  1900  ;  and  in  1901  Miss  Harriet  Bis- 
sell  and  Miss  Louise  Scheer  were  also  added  to  the  choir.  These 
ladies  are  a  regular  part  of  the  vested  choir,  and  enter  in  the  proces- 
sional. They  wear  small  black  caps,  and  a  special  dress,  which  resem- 
bles the  vestments  worn  by  the  other  members  of  the  choir. 

In  January,  1900,  the  music  committee  consisted  of  Hobart  Weed, 
Edmund  Hayes  and  James  R.  Smith.  In  May,  1900,  the  vestry 
resolved  :  "  That  a  vote  of  thanks  be  extended  to  Mr.  Philip  S.  Smith, 
for  the  efficient  services  rendered  by  him  during  the  past  year,  as  a 
member  of  the  music  committee." 

The  same  committee  as  that  in  1900  served  also  in  190 1  and  in 
1902.     In  1900,  Herbert  Newton  sang  bass  in  the  quartette. 

April  1,  1900,  the  evening  of  Passion  Sunday,  the  cantata  of  The 
Crucifixion  was  repeated. 

At  Easter,  1901,  Edward  M.  Sicard  sang  bass,  the  rest  of  the  quar- 
tette being  as  before.     The  choir  was  assisted  by  the  74th  Regiment 


The  Music,  iSiy-ipoj.  355 

band.  The  "  Year  Book  "  says  :  "  The  marked  improvement  in  the 
music,  through  the  strengthening  of  the  choir  by  the  addition  of 
women's  voices,  has  been  made  possible  by  the  generosity  of  several 
gentlemen  of  the  parish." 

April  14,  1901,  the  evening  of  Low  Sunday,  the  cantata  of  The 
Resurrection,  by  Manney,  was  rendered,  the  mixed  chorus  assisting  the 
vested  choir,  as  before;  Mr.  Webster  conducting,  and  Miss  Bennett  at 
the  organ.  From  February  1  to  May  26,  1901,  Milnor  Travis,  harpist, 
was  engaged.  May  24,  1901,  Carl  D.  Stephan  became  the  tenor,  suc- 
ceeding Mr.  Hicks,  and  sang  until  April  30,  1902. 

March  23,  1902,  the  evening  of  Palm  Sunday,  the  cantata  of  The 
Crucifixion  was  repeated. 

At  Easter,  March  30,  1902,  the  music  at  St.  Paul's  was  highly  com- 
mended. The  solo  work  covered  a  wider  range  than  usual,  Miss 
O'Connor  singing  in  the  Gounod  Mass  the  two  tenor  solos  in  the 
Sanctus,  as  well  as  the  soprano  solo  in  the  Gloria.  Miss  Eleanor  M. 
Dambmann  came  from  New  York  to  take  the  position  of  contralto  in 
the  quartette.  Carl  D.  Stephan  sang  the  tenor  solo  in  the  Te  Deum, 
and  Mr.  Mitchell  substituted  for  Mr.  Radenovitz,  who  was  ill.  Mrs. 
George  D.  Morgan  sang  several  solos  in  the  Jubilate  and  also  the 
offertory  anthem,  with  violin  obligato,  kindly  giving  her  services.  A. 
T.  Webster's  carol,  "The  Day  of  Resurrection,"  was  sung.  Dudley 
Buck's  festival  Te  Deum  was  given,  and  the  Communion  service  was 
Gounod's  Messe  Solenuelle,  "  St.  Cecilia." 

At  this  time  the  regular  quartette  was  :  Miss  O'Connor,  soprano  ; 
Miss  Dambmann,  contralto  ;  Carl  D.  Stephan,  tenor  ;  and  Simon 
Radenovitz,  bass  ;  Andrew  T.  Webster,  organist  and  choir-master. 
The  orchestra  was  under  the  direction  of  Frank  Kuhn,  and  was  placed 
in  the  north  transept  just  outside  the  chancel,  occupying  the  same 
position  as  the  choir  from  1851  to  1863.  All  of  the  singers  were  vested, 
and  occupied  places  in  the  choir  portion  of  the  chancel,  and  all  took 
part  in  the  processional  and  recessional. 

"  Usually,  during  the  winter,  one  or  more  of  the  Sunday  evening 


356  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

services  are  converted  into  special  musical  services.  On  the  evening 
of  Quinquagesima  Sunday,  February  9,  1902,  the  choir  had  the  assist- 
ance of  the  '  Harmonie '  Ladies'  Quartette,  and  Mr.  Lapey,  bass. 
They  were  placed  in  the  loft,  at  the  west  end  of  the  nave,  and  sang 
'  List  the  cherubic  host,'  from  Gaul's  Holy  City.  Mrs.  Spire  also  sang 
a  solo.  At  the  offertory,  the  antiphonal  effect  of  Miss  O'Connor's  short 
solo  sentences  and  the  answering  chancel  choir  was  very  beautiful." 

The  late  Charles  M.  Cashmore  entered  the  choir  some  time  in  1892, 
and  soon  after  became  librarian,  retaining  that  post  until  his  death, 
February  1,  1902.  His  services  were  invaluable.  The  vested  choir  is 
a  paid  one  throughout,  with  the  exception  of  the  men  singers,  six  of 
whom  only  are  paid,  and  the  remainder  give  their  services. 

It  is  noteworthy  that  almost  all  of  the  singers  are  members  of  the 
church.  In  the  services,  as  conducted  since  the  restoration  of  the 
edifice,  the  vested  choir  enters  in  procession  from  the  basement  or 
crypt,  by  the  broad  stairway,  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  church, 
in  what  is  known  as  "the  chapel."  They  pass  through  the  north 
transept  to  the  choir  seats  in  the  chancel,  singing  the  processional 
hymn,  and  preceded  by  the  crucifer.  On  the  special  festivals  of  the 
church,  the  procession  passes  through  the  north  aisle  to  the  main  ves- 
tibule and  thence  through  the  center  aisle  to  the  chancel.  At  the  end 
of  the  recessional  the  choir  is  dismissed  in  the  crypt  after  a  short 
prayer  by  the  rector. 

May  1,  1902,  the  vested  choir  quartette,  as  constitued  at  the  pres- 
ent time,  is  :  Miss  O'Connor,  soprano  ;  Miss  Dambmann,  contralto  ; 
Frederick  Hicks,  tenor  ;  and,  temporarily,  J.  Clark  Milsom,  bass,  one 
of  the  singers  of  the  choir.  Mr.  Milsom  will  be  remembered  as  a  boy 
soprano  soloist,  in  the  vested  choir,  in  the  'So's,  under  Mr.  Mischka. 

June,  1902,  W.  J.  Mitchell  became  the  solo  bass  singer  at  St.  Paul's. 
February  22,  1903,  The  Holy  City  was  repeated.  At  Easter  (April  12th) 
1903,  the  choir  had  the  assistance  of  Madame  Brazzi,  contralto,  Mrs. 
G.  D.  Morgan,  soprano,  and  an  orchestra  under  Henry  M.  Marcus. 
A.  T.  Webster  was  organist  and  choir-master. 


Ibistortcal  Botes, 

1817*1903. 


St.  Paul's  Gburcb. 

Historical  Outline, 

1817=1903. 


1817.  February  10th.  —  St.  Paul's  Parish  organized  and  incorporated.  (Population  of 
Buffalo  in  1817  about  1,500.)  Rev.  Samuel  Johnston,  missionary.  (De- 
cember 30,  1 81 3,  Buffalo  had  been  burned  by  the  British.) 

181 7.      Rev.  William  A.  Clark,  missionary  and  first  rector  (to  April  7,  1820). 

1 81 9.  May  20th.  —  Lot  42  given  by  Joseph  Ellicott,  as  agent  for  the  Holland  Land  Co., 
on  condition  that  a  church  be  built.  (See  facsimile  of  Mr.  Ellicott's  letter, 
in  this  volume.) 

1819.  June  24th. —  Corner  stone  of  frame  church  edifice  laid  (Masonic  ceremonies). 

(Rev.  William  A.  Clark,  rector.) 

1820.  May. —  Rev.  Deodatus  Babcock,  second  rector  (to  1824). 

1820.  June  14th. —  Deed  to  Lot  42  given  by  Holland  Land  Co. 

1821.  February  25th. —  Frame  church  edifice  consecrated  by  the  Bishop  of  New  York, 

Bishop  Hobart. 
1821.      (Summer.) — The  first  bell  hung  in  the  tower. 

1825.      March  30th. —  Rev.  Addison  Searle,  third  rector  (to  December  31,  1828). 
1825.      October  26th. —  Opening  of  the  Erie  Canal. 
1S27.      January  23d. —Glebe    lot   (or   "Gospel   lot")  given   to   St.  Paul's  by  Holland 

Land  Co.  — 100  acres  about  five  miles  from  Buffalo,  on  Military  Road. 

1827.  Rev.  Wm.  Shelton  of  Connecticut  preached  in  St.  Paul's,  as  guest  of  the  rec- 

tor, the  Rev.  Addison  Searle. 

1828.  The  frame  church  enlarged. 

1829.  January  17th. — Rev.  Reverard  Kearney,  fourth  rector  (to  June,  1829). 

1829.  September  13th. —  Rev.  Wm.  Shelton  preached  his  first  sermon  as  fifth  rector  of 
St.  Paul's.     He  arrived  in  Buffalo  September  nth,  on  his  thirty-first  birthday. 

357 


358  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

1830.  September  30th. —  Death  of  Bishop  John   Henry   Hobart,  in  the  fifty-fifth  year 

of  his  age. 

1831.  Side  galleries  built  in  frame  church  edifice. 

1832.  Cholera  raged  in  Buffalo,  and  again  in  1S34. 

1832.  Buffalo  incorporated  as  a  city  ;  population  10,000. 

1833.  Basement  Sunday  School  room  finished. 

1S39.  -^a>'  9tn- — Consecration  of  Rev.  Dr.  William  Heathcote  DeLancey  as  first 
Bishop  of  Western  New  York. 

1844.  June  10th. —  Lot  on  Pearl  Street  bought  for  rectory. 
1S44.      Vestry  sold  Glebe  lot  for  .$1,500. 

1845.  April  7th. —  Marriage  of  Dr.  Shelton  and  Mrs.  Lucretia  Stanley  Grosvenor. 

1847.  Rectory  finished. 

1848.  Subscriptions  for  the  new  stone  church  started. 

1849.  September   3d. —  Excavations    for    foundations    of    new    stone    church    begun. 

Most  of  foundation  laid  by  December  1,  1849  !  tne  frame  edifice  being  still 
in  use.      Cholera  again  in  Buffalo. 

1850.  Frame  church  edifice  sold,   removed  from  the  lot  in  April.     Last  service  in 

frame  church  March  17,  1S50. 

1850.  March  17  to  April  21,  1851. —  St.  Paul's  congregation  worshipped  in  Clinton 
Hall  on  Washington  Street. 

1850.     June  12th. —  Coiner  stone  of  new  stone  church  edifice  laid  by  Bishop  DeLancey. 

1S51.  October  22d. —  New  stone  church  consecrated  by  Bishop  DeLancey.  Novem- 
ber 2,  1 85 1,  Dr.  Shelton's  first  sermon  in  the  new  edifice. 

1854.     Receiving  vault  built  (in  church  edifice).     Cholera  again  in  Buffalo. 

1 854- 1 856.  Basement  Sunday  School  room,  porches,  stone  steps,  and  main  tower 
built. 

1856.  The  nine  bells  of  the  chime  placed  in  main  tower,  and  rung  for  the  first  time  on 
Christmas  Eve. 

1S57.  The  tenth  bell  added  to  the  chime,  and  the  chiming  apparatus  placed  in  the 
tower.  The  gallery  over  the  chapel  on  the  north  side  of  the  church  removed  ; 
the  glass  partition,  separating  the  lower  part  of  the  chapel  beneath  the 
gallery  from  the  body  of  the  church,  had  been  removed  (1856). 

1863.  Fall. —  Organ  moved  from  over  vestry  room,  at  north  of  chancel,  to  west  gallery 
of  nave.  In  fall  of  1866  the  former  organ  chamber  was  refitted  as  a  room  for 
meetings  of  building  committee.      In  1877  a  chancel  organ  was  placed  there. 

1865.  January  4th. —  Rev.  Dr.  Arthur  Cleveland  Coxe  consecrated  Assistant  Bishop 
of  Western  New  York. 

1865.  April  5th.  —  Death  of  Bishop  DeLancey,  in  the  sixty-eighth  year  of  his  age. 
Bishop  Coxe  became  the  second  Bishop  of  Western  New  York. 


Historical  Notes,   i8i/-iqoj.  359 

1867.  August  iSth  to  November  17th. — The  new,  carved,  black  walnut  stalls,  reredos 
and  bishop's  chair  put  in  place  in  the  chancel.  Font  moved  from  in  front 
of  chancel  to  east  end  of  the  chapel.      Walls  of  church  decorated. 

1870.  August  6th. — The  main  spire  finished,  and  the  gilded  cross  put  in  place. 

1871.  October  2d. — The   spire   of  the   small   tower  on  Church    Street   finished.      (In 

this  tower  has  hung,  since  1851,  the  old  bell  of  the  frame  church,  bought  in 

1 82 1,  and  recast  about  1826.) 
1873.      May. — The  stone  crosses,  finials,  etc.,  finished  (thus  completing  the  edifice). 
1876.      January  and   February. —  The  Sunday  School  room  in  basement  refitted  as  a 

chapel,  with  altar  placed  against  north  wall. 
1S79.      September  nth. — The  fiftieth  anniversary  of  Dr.  Shelton's  rectorate,   and  his 

eighty-first  birthday.      (The  semi-centennial  services  were  held  on  Sunday, 

September  14th.) 
1S81.     January  1 1  th.—  Resignation   of    Dr.    Shelton  as  rector   of   St.    Paul's.      Made 

honorary  rector. 
1882.      May  7th. —  Rev.  John  W.  Brown,  D.  D.,  sixth  rector  (to  June  I,  1888). 

1882.  September  6th. —  Death  of  Mrs.  Shelton. 

1883.  February   6th. —  Death   of    Rev.    Edward   Ingersoll,   D.  D.,   aged   seventy-two 

years.      (Rector  Emeritus  of  Trinity  Church,  Buffalo.) 
1883.      October  nth.  —  Death  of  Dr.  Shelton,  aged  eighty-five  years,  one  month. 
1883.      Sunday  School  room  in  basement  much  enlarged  to  east  and  north,  altar  moved 
to  east  end,  and  broad  flight  of  stairs  placed  in  northeast  corner  of  room, 
leading  to  church.      Rooms  for  vested  choir  also  built  in  basement. 
1885.      Use  of  receiving   vault  for  the  dead,  in  basement  of  church  edifice,  given  up. 
(The  entrance  to  this  vault  was  from   Pearl  Street  only,  the  door  being  that 
immediately  north  of  the  entrance  to  basement  Sunday  School  room.) 

1887.  December.      The  rector  reported   to  the  vestry  that  he  had  instituted  regular 

daily  services  at  St.  Paul's,  September  1st.      (These  services  have  been  con- 
tinued to  the  present  time,  1903.) 
188S.      April  25th. —  Resignation  of  Rev.  Dr.  Brown  as  rector  (to  take  effect  June   1. 
1888). 

1888.  May  10th  (Ascension  Day). —  St.  Paul's  Church  destroyed  by  fire. 

1888.      May  13th. —  St.  Paul's  congregation  worshipped  in  Temple  Beth  Zion,  Niagara 
Street,  given  for  their  use,  and  continued  to  do  so  until  Easter,  1889. 

1888.  June  1st. — Rev.  John  Huske,  minister-in-charge  (to  May  n,  1SS9). 

1889.  April  2 1  st. —  Easter  services  held   in   the   basement    Sunday  School  room,   or 

"Crypt   Chapel"  of  the  church,  which  was  used  until  the  reopening  of  the 
church,  January  3,  1890. 
1889.      May  to  October. —  Rev.  G.  Mott  Williams,  minister-in-charge. 


360  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

1889.  October  15th. —  Rev.  Henry  A.  Adams,  seventh  rector  (to  March  1,  1892). 

1890.  January  3d. —  Service  of  Hallowing    and  Reconciling  the  restored  church   edi- 

fice, by  Bishop  Coxe.  Evening  of  same  day — Service  in  commemoration 
of  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  Bishop  Coxe's  episcopate,  held  in  St.  Paul's. 

1892.      March  1st. —  Resignation  of  Rev.  Mr.  Adams  as  rector. 

1892.     March  1st  to  April  30th. —  Rev.  Arthur  J.  Fidler,  minister-in-charge. 

1892.  July  5th. —  Rev.  J.  A.  Regester  began  his  work  as  eighth  rector.  He  preached 
his  first  sermon  in  St.  Paul's  on  Sunday,  July  10th. 

1895.  March. —  Rectory,  No.  61  Johnson's  Park,  purchased. 

1896.  July  20th. —  Death  of  Bishop  Coxe,  aged  seventy-eight  years. 

1896.  December  23d.  —  Enthronization  of  the  Rt.  Rev.  William  David  Walker  as 
third  Bishop  of  Western  New  York.  (Bishop  Walker  had  been  consecrated 
Missionary  Bishop  of  North  Dakota,  December  20,  1883.) 

1896.  The  old  Parish   House,  formerly  Dr.  Shelton's  Rectory,  No.  128  Pearl  Street, 

demolished,  and  the  new  Parish  House  built  on  the  site. 

1897.  February  25th.  —  New  Parish  House  opened. 

1902.  February  10th. —  Eighty-fifth  anniversary  of  the  organization  of  the  Parish  of 
St.  Paul's.     (Population  of  Buffalo  in  1902  about  40x3,000.) 

1902.     July. — Tenth  anniversary  of  the  rectorate  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Regester. 

1902.  July. — Deed  of  the  small  triangles  of  land,  at  east  and  southwest  corners  of 
the  church  lot,  presented  to  St.  Paul's  by  Farmers  Loan  and  Trust  Company 
of  New  York. 

XTbe  Seal  of  tbe  Corporation. 


Church, 


The  Seal  of  the  church  was  chosen  at  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  held 
April  23,  1 82 1,  at  which  it  was  :  "  Resolved,  That  the  church  adopt  as  its 
common  seal  a  marble  eight-sided  cone,  whereon  is  engraved  the  let- 
ters 'St.  Paul's  Church,  Buffalo.'  "     (Page  21.) 


Historical  Notes,   181J-1903.  361 

This  description  seems  to  require  a  few  words  of  explanation.  The 
original  die  was  used  for  making  impressions  in  wax  only,  and  the 
device  was  engraved  on  the  lower  surface  of  a  small  piece  of  marble, 
the  upper  part  of  this  piece  of  marble  being  cut  into  the  shape  of  the 
"  eight-sided  cone,"  or  pyramid,  described  in  the  resolution.  This 
pyramid  formed  a  handle  merely,  and  was  no  part  of  the  device  of  the 
seal  itself.  The  present  seal  is  the  same  as  the  original  one,  but  is 
engraved  in  a  metal  die,  and  used  in  a  press  to  emboss  paper,  as  is  now 
customary. 

The  legal  name  of  the  corporation  is  "  St.  Paul's  Church  in  Buffalo." 


Uhe  jfirst  iRoman  Catbolic  ZlDass  in  Buffalo, 

The  following  reference  to  St.  Paul's  Parish  will  be  found  at  page 
2ii,  "  Missions  in  Western  New  York  and  Church  History  of  the  Dio- 
cese of  Buffalo,"  by  Rt.  Rev.  John  Timon,  D.  D.,  first  Bishop  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  diocese  of  Buffalo,  published  in  1862  : 

"The  first  recorded  visit  of  a  priest  occurred  eight  years  after  Buffalo  had  been 
burned  down  by  the  British.  The  Rt.  Rev.  Henry  Conwell,  Bishop  of  Philadelphia, 
then  passed  through  on  his  way  westward,  and  baptised  a  child  of  Patrick  O'Rourke, 
whose  pious  wife  still  remembers  and  relates  the  facts. 

"The  few  Catholics  of  this  place  were  next  visited,  in  1821,  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Kelly  of  Rochester,  who  said  Mass  in  St.  Paul's,  the  Episcopal  Church  ;  only  five 
Catholic  families  being  in  attendance." 

This  is  the  first  recorded  celebration  in  Buffalo  of  the  Mass  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  Church.  The  Rev.  Deodatus  Babcock  was  rector  of 
St.  Paul's  at  this  time. 


IRotes  on  tbe  3Earl\>  IRectors. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Johnston  was  the  missionary  under  whom  St. 
Paul's  Parish  was  organized  in  1S17  ;  and  the  Rev.  William  A.  Clark 
was  the  missionary  and  first  rector,  from  181 7  to  April  7,  1820,  and 


362  History  of  St.  Paul 's  CJiurch. 

in   1S19,  during  his  rectorate,  the  building  of  the  first  frame  edifice 
was  begun.     (Pages  8  to  18.) 


The  Rev.  Deodatus  Babcock  became  the  second  rector  of  St.  Paul's 
in  May,  1820,  and  remained  there  until  1S24.  He  had  been  living  in 
the  Village  of  Buffalo  before  becoming  rector,  and  had  been  ordered 
deacon,  but  he  was  not  ordained  to  the  priesthood  until  August,  182 1. 
In  a  paper  on  "The  Buffalo  Common  Schools,"  read  before  the  Buffalo 
Historical  Society  by  the  late  O.  G.  Steele,  in  1863,  occurs  the  follow- 
ing mention  of  this  early  rector  of  St.  Paul's  :...."  After  the  war 
(of  1 81 2)  a  school  was  started,  and  kept  in  such  rooms  as  could  be 

obtained While  near  Mr.  Callender's  it  was  taught  by  Rev. 

Deodatus  Babcock,  an  Episcopal  minister,  who  taught  some  of  the 
higher  branches.  A  lady  of  the  city  relates  with  how  much  awe  she 
looked  upon  Mr.  Babcock,  when  he  was  hearing  a  recitation  in  Latin, 
from  Orsamus  Marshall." 

The  Buffalo  Commercial  published,  in  1866-7,  a  series  of  reminis- 
cences signed  Historicus.  Concerning  the  members  of  the  earliest  mu- 
sical association  in  Buffalo,  the  Musica  Sacra  Society,  founded  in  1820,  he 
writes  :     .  .  .  .  "  The  leader  and  teacher  was  Rev.  Deodatus  Babcock, 

....  now  residing  at  Balliston  Spa,  New  York Mr.  Babcock 

was  of  tall  and  heavy  stature,  much  like  Rev.  Mr.  Hitchcock,  of  slow 
and  stately  movements,  and  of  a  serious  demeanour,  that  impressed 
one  with  his  honesty  and  earnestness.  I  was  much  awed  by  his 
solemnity  of  manner   when   he  sprinkled  on   my  unworthy  head  the 

holy  waters  of  the  baptismal  rite If  a  moment  is  offered  for 

reflection  how  swiftly  willing  memory  runs  over  the  unseen  keys  that 
vibrate  to  us  the  sweet  peaceful  tones  of  the  choir,  that  lifted  up  a 
song  of  rejoicing  over  the  young  lambs  taken  into  the  fold  of  Christ 
and  sealed  with  His  divine  signet.  The  quiet  church  is  again  before 
the  eye,  with  its  crowd  of  reverent  worshippers,  and  filled  with  that 
indescribable  rapt  Presence,  that  makes  us  love  the  Beauty  of  Holi- 
ness      Clergymen  had  a  different  way  of  living  then  from  what 


Historical  Notes,   1817-1903.  363 

they  have  now  —  more  simple  and  patriarchal Like  the  self- 
denying  and  enthusiastic  Paul,  they  often  '  laboured  willingly  with 
their  hands.'  I  remember  to  have  gone,  one  wintry  afternoon,  to  get 
Mr.  Babcock  to  visit  my  grandmother,  and  administer  the  consolations 
of  the  Gospel,  as  she  was  thought  to  be  dying,  and  found  him  vigor- 
ously wielding  an  axe,  cutting  his  own  fire-wood  from  a  pile  of  green 

beech  at  the  door He  then  lived  in  the  house  now  occupied 

by  S.  N.  Callender,  on  Erie  Street  near  Pearl  —  or  the  one  next  to  it. 
He  was  a  sturdy  chopper,  and  made  the  chips  fly.  A  good  man,  too, 
was  Parson  Babcock."  .... 

A  part  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Babcock's  salary  as  rector  was  paid  in  fire- 
wood.    (See  pages  19  to  24,  this  volume.) 


The  Rev.  Addison  Searle  was  third  rector  of  St.  Paul's,  from  March 
30,  1S25,  to  December  31,  1828.     (Pages  25  to  36.) 

In  an  interesting  paper  on  the  founding  of  the  "  City  of  Ararat," 
in  1825,  by  the  Hon.  Lewis  F.  Allen,  read  by  him  before  the  Buffalo 
Historical  Society,  March  5,  1866,  is  the  following  : 

....  "The  Rev.  Mr.  Searle  was,  at  that  time,  the  officiating  clergyman  in  the 
little  church  of  St.  Paul's,  in  the  Village  of  Buffalo,  and  had  been  placed  there  as  a 
missionary  by  the  late  wise  and  excellent  Bishop  Hobart.  He  held  a  government 
commission  as  chaplain  of  the  United  States,  and  had  been  granted  a  some  years'  fur- 
lough from  active  duty.  He  had  been  on  foreign  cruises  — had  coasted  the  Mediterra- 
nean, and  spent  months  in  the  chief  cities  of  its  classic  shores,  and  visited  the  beautiful 
Greek  island  of  Scio,  a  few  weeks  after  the  burning  of  its  towns  and  the  massacre  of 
its  people  by  the  Turks,  in  1822.  He  was  an  accomplished  and  genial  man,  of  com- 
manding person  and  portly  mien  ;  his  manners  were  bland,  and  his  address  courtly. 
Whether  he  had  made  the  acquaintance  of  Major  Noah  abroad  or  in  New  York,  or 
whether  he  first  met  him  on  this  occasion  at  Buffalo,  I  know  not  ;  but  their  intercourse 
here  was  cordial  and  friendly."  ....      (See  page  366,  this  volume. ) 

There  are,  doubtless,  latter-day  critics  who  may  be  inclined  to  cen- 
sure the  Rev.  Mr.  Searle  for  allowing  the  corner  stone  of  the  antici- 
pated Jewish  city  to  be  dedicated  and  laid  on  the  altar  of  the  church 
of  which  he  was  rector,  and  for  taking  part  himself  in  the  ceremonial. 


364  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

It  must  be  remembered,  however,  that  St.  Paul's  Church  was,  at  that 
early  day,  the  only  public  building  of  a  religious  character  in  the  vil- 
lage, and  it  was  not  feasible  to  lay  the  stone  at  Grand  Island.  Major 
Noah,  while  peculiar  and  oriental  in  his  character,  was  nevertheless 
thoroughly  in  earnest  in  his  effort  to  found  a  city  for  his  scattered  peo- 
ple, and  he  seems  to  have  been  a  man  of  deep  religious  feeling.  All 
of  this  probably  appealed  to  Mr.  Searle,  who,  in  that  wilderness,  felt 
the  call  strong  upon  him  to  be  "given  to  hospitality."  Mr.  Searle, 
while  a  loyal  churchman,  seems  to  have  been  broad-minded  and  liberal 
towards  all  men,  and  a  whole-souled  and  genial  man  himself.  His 
sense  of  duty  was  very  strong,  as  is  shown  by  his  giving  his  best 
energies  to  the  building  up  of  the  church  in  what  was  then  a  small 
frontier  village,  with  no  conveniences,  very  little  to  attract  a  man  of 
Mr.  Searle's  previous  experiences,  and  a  climate  rigorous  and  most 
trying  to  his  constitution.  It  was  this  last  drawback  which  seems  to 
have  been  the  only  one  which  caused  him  to  relinquish  his  work,  and 
even  that  he  bravely  withstood  until  some  one,  more  vigorous  phys- 
ically than  himself,  could  be  found  to  take  his  place.  His  letters  show 
him  also  to  have  had  a  strong  and  saving  sense  of  humor,  and  some  of 
his  references  to  the  primitive  mode  of  life  he  was  obliged  to  adopt 
are  exceedingly  witty.  For  the  people  of  his  charge  he  expresses  the 
kindest  feelings  and  much  affectionate  regard. 

In  his  fiftieth  anniversary  sermon,  September  14,  1879,  Dr.  Shelton 
thus  refers  to  his  early  friend,  the  Rev.  Addison  Searle  :  .  .  .  .  "  The 
memory  of  this  excellent  and  genial  Christian  minister  has  ever  since 
been  cherished  by  those  who  were  his  parishioners  with  every  senti- 
ment of  respect  and  hearty  affection."  .... 

In  the  annual  address  on  the  occasion  of  the  fourth  "Old  Folks' 
Festival,"  January  24,  1867,  the  Rev.  John  C.  Lord,  D.  D.,  speaks 
thus  :  .  .  .  .  "  With  the  Rev.  Mr.  Searle,  rector  of  St.  Paul's,  I  next 
made  acquaintance.  He  was  the  predecessor  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton, 
who  has  been  settled  here  for  a  longer  period  than  any  other  clergy- 
man, and  who  enpys  a  large  measure  of  the  esteem  and  affection  of 


Historical  Notes,   iSij-iyoj.  365 

our  community,  irrespective  of  denominational  boundaries.  Mr.  Searle 
was  a  finished  gentleman  in  manners He  was  highly  and  de- 
servedly esteemed.  My  impression  is  that  he  was  the  highest  kind  of 
High  Churchman."  ....  Dr.  Lord,  who  was  always  a  loved  and 
respected  friend  of  Dr.  Shelton,  was  the  pastor  of  the  Central  Pres- 
byterian Church  for  many  years. 

Extracts   from   Some   JEarlv   Xetters   from  tbe  IRev. 

Booison  Searle,  IReetor  of  St.  Paul's 

Gbureb,  to  J6isbop  Ibobart,  etc. 

"  Buffalo,  23d  July,  1827. 
.  .  .  .  "  Your  invitation  for  me  to  accompany  you  to  the  West  will  be  most  cheer- 
fully accepted,  should  it  be  in  my  power  to  do  so.  The  revenues  of  my  pontificate, 
'  the  bishop  of  the  Buffaloes,'  are  limited,  very  limited,  when  we  consider  how  many 
expenses  necessary  and  unavoidable  in  building  up  this  church  devolve  upon  pastor 
and  people, —  still,  I  shall  do  my  best,  and  rest  content  with  the  result.  My  little 
parish  continues  gradually  to  flourish."  .... 

10th  April,  1828  : 

....    "I  am  helped  by  the  Great  Head  of  the  church,  I  trust,  amidst  all  the 
difficulties  and  dangers  of  my  post,  to  build  up  this  little  parish  gradually,  constantly, 

and  permanently  on  Church  principles But  I  have  nearly  done,  unless  the 

spring  soon  smile  upon  us On  Easter  ....  gave  the  Communion  to  more 

persons  than  were  ever  before  at  the  Altar  of  this  church  on  a  similar  occasion 

My  congregation  here  is  quickening  its  onward  march  a  little  under  its  anxious 
shepherd."  .... 

2d  August,  1828,  he  writes  : 

....   "  We  are  enlarging  and  repairing  St.  Paul's  Church  ;  but  are  in  the  con- 
stant use  of  it  for  public  worship."  .... 

nth  September,  1828  : 
.  ..."  I  shall  continue  to  officiate  here,  if  possible,  until  the  Rev.  Wm.  Shelton, 
elected  for  this  station,  shall  arrive.  It  is  not  known  that  he  will  come  ;  still  it  is  con- 
fidently expected  he  will  accept  the  offer.  Our  church  is  beautiful,  and  is  nearly  com- 
pleted. It  would  have  been  done  ere  this  but  for  the  great  sickness  and  mortality 
with  which  we  have  been  visited.     Nothing  in  the  course  of  my  life  has  given  me 


366  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

such  pain  and  sorrow  as  the  necessity  I  am  under  of  leaving  my  very  kind  and  affec- 
tionate people.  It  is  now  settled  ;  and  I  hope  to  be  away  from  the  piercing  winds  of 
Lake  Erie  before  the  inclemency  of  winter  comes  upon  me."  .... 

October  18,  1828,  he  writes  : 

.  .  .  .  "  Wherever  I  may  go,  however  distant  my  station  may  be  from  the  Diocese 
of  New  York,  let  me  ask  it  of  you,  that  you  will  not  forget  me,  notwithstanding  my 
numerous  faults  and  imperfections.  My  separation  from  my  people  is  the  greatest 
affliction  of  my  life.  The  winds  of  this  lake  would  probably  kill  me.  They  have 
commenced  their  ravages  upon  me  already  for  this  winter.  The  most  I  can  do  is  to 
remain  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  the  station  until  my  successor  shall  come. 
St.  Paul's  Church,  in  this  village,  is  a  beautiful  building,  and,  with  the  exception  of 
St.  Luke's  at  Rochester,  is  the  handsomest  in  this  part  of  the  State.  We  have  given 
the  body  of  the  church  a  light  dove  color,  and  painted  the  finish  with  white.  We 
shall  soon  reoccupy  it.     The  congregation  is  prosperous."  .... 

In  a  letter  to  Bishop  Hobart,  dated  "  Eagle  Tavern,  Buffalo, 
17th  November,  1828,"  Rev.  Mr.  Searle  writes,  after  regretting  the 
Rev.  Wm.  Shelton's  decision  not  to  accept  the  call  to  St.  Paul's,  Buffalo, 
and  asking  the  bishop  to  suggest  another  candidate  : 

.  ..."  I  will  not  leave  this  people  without  ministerial  aid,  unless  obliged  to  do  so 
by  circumstances  beyond  my  control St.  Paul's  is  completed  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  little  about  the  chancel.  It  is  magnificently  plain,  and,  with  the  exception 
of  St.  Luke's  at  Rochester,  is  the  handsomest  church  in  this  part  of  the  State."  .... 

In  a  letter  to  T.  L.  Ogden,  Esq.,  dated  Buffalo,  December  10,  1827, 
relative  to  a  proposed  discontinuance  of  the  "  missionary  aid  "  to  the 
parish,  Rev.  Mr.  Searle,  after  requesting  the  board  to  reconsider  their 
decision,  says  : 

.  .  .  .  "  However  painful  it  may  be  for  me  to  leave  the  people  of  my  church, 
always  kind  to  me,  I  hope  for  the  happiness  of  leaving  them  in  a  flourishing  condi- 
tion       My  health  has  failed  me.     Yesterday  I  was  compelled  to  stop  in  the 

midst  of  the  sermon  and  dismiss  the  congregation."   .... 

flDajor  iRoab's  Cit\\ 

The  following  extracts  are  from  a  letter,  written  by  the  late  Hon. 
Lewis  F.  Allen  to  the  Buffalo  Courier,  under  date  of  May  15,  1888,  in 


Monument  to  the  memory  of  the  Rev.  ADDISON   SEARLE,  Mount  Auburn  Cemetery, 
Cambridge.  Massachusetts.      From  a  photograph  by  G.  H.  B.,  September  3,  1903. 


The  inscription,  under  the  open  bible,  cross  and  anchor,  is  as  follows: 

"  Rev.  Addison  Searle,  late  Senior  Chaplain  in  the  U.  S.  N.  Buried  at  Sea,  August  2, 
1850.  Erected  by  friends  who  valuing  him  in  life  remember  him  in  death  with  true  affection 
and  deep  regard." 

Upon  the  back  of  the  shaft  is  a  circular,  sunken  panel  containing  the  masonic  symbol, 
an  open  bible  with  the  square  and  compasses. 

This  monument,  which  we  discovered  unexpectedly  while  on  a  visit  to  the  cemetery  in 
September,  1003,  is  of  white  marble,  and  is  situated  on  Pyrola  Path,  opposite  the  stone  erected 
in  memory  of  the  celebrated  Margaret  Fuller.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Searle  was  the  third  rector  of 
St.  Paul's,  from  March  30,  1825,  to  December  31,  1828.     (See  pages  25  to  39,  and  363  to  370.) 


Historical  Notes,   1817-1903.  367 

regard  to  Major  Mordecai  M.  Noah.  (See  page  27,  this  volume.  Also 
page  169.) 

"  To  the  Editor  : 

"  Your  relation  of  '  A  strange  spectacle,  that  of  a  congregation  of  Gentiles  worship- 
ping in  a  synagogue,'  is  no  more  than  that  of  returning  a  graceful  act  of  hospitality  on 
the  part  of  the  congregation  of  the  ancient  St.  Paul's,  nearly  sixty-three  years  ago,  in 
permitting,  with  the  assistance  of  the  Rev.  Addison  Searle,  then  filling  the  pulpit  of 
that  little  church,  the  laying  of  the  'corner  stone'  of  the  proposed  'City  of  Ararat,' 
to  be  founded  on  Grand  Island,  several  miles  down  the  Niagara  River,  on  the  Com- 
munion table  of  the  church,  instead  of  on  the  ground  where  the  anticipated  city  was  to 
be  built This  act  of  last  Sunday,  was  most  generous  on  the  part  of  the  syna- 
gogue and  its  rabbi,  but  whether  either  the  learned  rabbi  or  a  single  one  of  this  con- 
gregation knew  of  the  previous  liberality  of  the  people  of  St.  Paul's  is  a  matter  of 
doubt,  as  probably  not  one  of  them  was  living  in  Buffalo  at  the  time.  The  facts  are 
rather  memorable  and  worth  relating,  recalled  as  they  are  by  only  a  few  survivors  of 

the   time In  the  summer  of    1825,  the  State  of    New  York,  then  owner  of 

Grand  Island,  sold  the  117  farm  lots  which  it  had  recently  laid  out  by  survey  in  the 
wilderness  to  various  parties  in  the  State,  among  others  to  Mr.  Samuel  Leggitt,  a 
wealthy  Quaker  of  New  York  City Major  Mordecai  Manuel  Noah,  a  dis- 
tinguished Israelite  of  that  city,  then  editor  of  the  chief  '  Tammany'  newspaper,  had 
conceived  the  project  of  building  a  Jewish  city  on  the  island,  and  from  Mr.  Leggitt 
had  obtained  refusal  of  his  lands  for  that  purpose.  The  Erie  Canal  was  just  about  to 
be  finished,  and  in  the  wealth  and  enterprise  of  the  Israelites  he  anticipated  that  a 
large  commercial  city  could  be  founded  to  control  the  trade  of  the   lakes  and  canal 

....  at  a  point  nearly  opposite  Tonawanda Major  Noah  heralded  his  plans 

through  his  newspaper  with  both  energy  and  ability,  for  he  was  a  graceful  scholar, 

as    well   as   a    leader  in   his  political  party But  the  sharp  intellects  of  his 

Jewish  brethren  were  skeptical  to  his  plans,  and  they  gave  no  assistance  to  his  proj- 
ects. Yet  he  was  a  determined  man  and  bent  on  laying  a  corner  stone  to  his  antici- 
pated city.  In  the  month  of  August,  therefore,  he  packed  his  judicial  robes,  for  he 
had  assumed  the  title  of  '  Judge  of  Israel,'  proceeded  to  Albany  in  a  steamboat,  and 
thence  to  Buffalo  by  stage.  At  Buffalo  he  knew  no  one  but  Mr.  Isaac  Smith,  a  com- 
mercial resident,  and  the  Rev.  Addison  Searle,  the  then  missionary  at  St.  Paul's. 
These  gentlemen  he  had  both  known  while  he  was  United  States  consul  at  Tunis,  on 
the  Mediterranean  Shore  ....     Mr.  Searle  being  chaplain  on  one  of  the  government 

ships  of  war,  on  a  cruising  expedition He  had  notified  them  of  his  coming 

and    intention Mr.  Smith    procured  the  stone  for  his  arrival Once 

here,    he    found    the   site   of    his   city  was  ten  miles  away  on  a  wilderness  shore, 


368  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

....  and  never  even  seeiDg  the  island,  save  by  map,  he  obtained  leave  of  the  people 
of  St.  Paul's  and  Mr.  Searle  to  lay  his  corner  stone  on  the  Communion  table  inside  of 
the  church,  near  the  pulpit,  and  perform  all  the  ceremonies  of  the  occasion.  The 
Masonic  order  of  the  village,  ....  and  a  military  company  ....  led  a  large 
procession  to  the  church,  headed  by  the  'Judge  of  Israel,'  who  in  his  robes  of  scarlet, 
with  the  Bible,  and  other  adjuncts,  performed  the  services  necessary  to  such  an 
imposing  occasion,  in  which  Mr.  Searle  gave  the  limited  assistance  required,  and  the 
little  organ  in  the  gallery  furnished  the  music  to  complete  it.  After  the  ceremonial 
services,  Major  Noah  delivered  an  able  discourse,  setting  forth  the  plans  of  his  pro- 
posed city,  settlement  and  prospects,  which  ended  the  remarkable  doings  of  the  day, 
reports  of  all  of  which  were  published  in  the  monthly  newspaper  of  the  village  (the 
Buffalo  Patriot).  Thus  ended  the  whole  affair.  Within  a  day  or  two  afterward 
Major  Noah  left  the  village  for  New  York,  and  never  returned  to  visit  it  or  to  see  the 

territory  of  Grand  Island  ....   the  project  utterly  failed  of  accomplishment 

The  laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  a  J  ewish  city  on  the  Communion  table  of  a  Protestant 
Episcopal  church,  was  noted  only  as  an  episode  of  the  day,  and  no  reflection  was 
made  upon  the  conduct  of  the  Rev.    Mr.  Searle  or  his  congregation  for  their  act  of 

generosity  to  a  stranger,  although    so   unique  in    its   occasion The  '  corner 

stone,'  famous  for  many  years  of  notice  by  tourists,  was  afterwards  rescued  from  its 
neglect  by  the  writer  of  this  sketch  ....  and  presented  by  him  some  years  ago  to 
the  Buffalo  Historical  Society,  where,  with  its  Hebrew  inscription,  it  holds  an  honor- 
able place  among  the  many  earlier  collections  of  our  past  history." 
[The  ceremony  above  described  was  held  September  2,  1825.] 


ARARAT 

.  A'CityroF   Refuge    for  the  Jews. 
bounded  ^MoRDE.caiWanuSlNpah,.'/?  the'Mont]i'~TT'\'LV\    558c 
\&hfk\%%h.%C,.in  the  hO^year  of American  Independence. 

'       "•      •■■■■-■-."• --^  ^^(g-a^g.^;^ 


CORNKR  STONK  OF  THE  CITY  OF  ARARAT. 


Historical  Xotes,   i8ij-iqoj.  369 

The  stone  bears  an  inscription,  first,  in  Hebrew  text,  the  words 
from  Deut.  vi,  4  : 

"  '  Hear,  oh  Israel, 
The  Lord  our  God  is  one  Lord.' 

ARARAT, 

A  City  of  Refuge  for  the  Jews, 

Founded  by  Mordecai  Manuel  Noah 

In  the  month  Tizri,  5586,  September,  1825,  and  in  the  50TH 

Year  of  American  Independence." 

The  above  letter  simply  gives  a  brief  outline  of  this  strange  affair. 

Mr.  Allen  knew  Major  Noah  well,  and  has  previously  told  this  story, 
with  full  and  interesting  detail,  in  a  paper  entitled  "  Founding  of  the 
City  of  Ararat  on  Grand  Island,"  which  he  read  before  the  "Buffalo 
Historical  Society  Club,"  March  6,  1866,  and  which  may  be  found  in 
Volume  I.  of  the  publications  of  that  society,  issued  in  1S79,  at  pages 
305-328.  This  paper  by  Mr.  Allen  was  first  published  in  the  Buffalo 
City  Directory  of  1867,  the  year  after  it  was  written. 

The  well-known  author,  Israel  Zangwill,  has  also  used  this  inci- 
dent as  the  basis  of  a  short  story  called  "  Noah's  Ark,"  in  his  volume, 
published  in  1899,  entitled  "  They  That  Walk  in  Darkness."  With  the 
exception  of  one  imaginary  character,  in  the  story  of  "  Noah's  Ark," 
the  facts  are  used  almost  literally.  Old  St.  Paul's  and  its  rector,  the 
Rev.  Addison  Searle,  each  appear  in  propria  persona,  as  do  also  —  to 
give  an  added  tint  to  the  local  color,  doubtless  —  Red  Jacket  and 
Joseph  Ellicott,  spelled  Elliot. 


Hccounts  ano  Hnecootes  of  tbe  1Rew  Br.  Sbelton. 

The  late  Rev.  Dr.  John  W.  Brown,  always  full  of  kindly  considera- 
tion for  the  aged  honorary  rector,  did  not  fail  to  do  honor  to  his  mem- 
ory when  he  had  passed  away.  The  impressive  and  tender  funeral 
sermon  which  he  preached  in  St.  Paul's  on  October  14,  1883,  is  noted 
earlier  in  this  volume.     (Pages  147,  148.) 


370  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

He  wrote  a  very  interesting  account  of  his  predecessor  in  an 
article  entitled  "  William  Shelton,  D.  D.,"  published  in  the  American 
Church  Review  for  March,  1884,  dealing  more  particularly  with  Dr. 
Shelton's  relations  to  the  Church.  The  magazine  gives,  as  frontispiece, 
a  small  steel  portrait  of  Dr.  Shelton,  engraved  after  the  photograph 
taken  in  Brussels  in  1865,  one  of  the  best  photographic  portraits  of 
Dr.  Shelton  ever  made.  The  frontispiece  of  this  history  is  reproduced 
from  the  same  photograph. 

The  following  extracts  from  Dr.  Brown's  article  are  given,  bringing 
out,  as  they  do,  many  points  in  Dr.  Shelton's  character  : 

....  "The  desire  for  the  companionship  of  his  'grave  and  reverend  seniors' 
was  a  marked  peculiarity  of  his  youth.  Once  when  Bishop  Hobart  was  a  guest  of  his 
father,  William  was  deputed  to  take  the  bishop  in  the  gig  to  New  York.  On  their 
way,  through  Mamaroneck  plains,  a  young  man  was  overtaken  on  the  road.  The 
bishop  called  halt  and,  warmly  greeting  the  gentleman,  entered  into  conversation  about 
some  studies  and  books.  After  starting  on  their  journey  the  bishop  said,  'William, 
that  young  man  is  named  DeLancey  and  is  studying  under  me  for  the  ministry,  and 
you  mark  my  word,  he  will  make  a  name  for  himself  in  the  Church.'  The  first  bishop 
of  Western  New  York,  fully  verified  the  prophecy 

....  "The  Rev.  Addison  Searle,  who  preceded  Dr.  Shelton  as  rector,  writes  to 
him  in  1827  [after  his  first  visit  to  Buffalo]:  'We  are  gratified  to  learn  that  you  arrived 
safely  in  your  snug  and  quiet  home,  and  that  you  were  pleased  with  your  excursion  to 
these  western  wilds  ;  especially  that  this  frontier  station  —  this  outpost  of  the  Union, 
Buffalo,  in  its  rude  state  seemed  so  agreeable  to  you.  It  is  a  goodly  heritage,  but  has 
few  pleasures,  luxuries  or  advantages  in  comparison  of  the  old,  long-settled  parts  of 
the  country.'  .... 

.  .  .  .  "  Travelling  by  wagon  and  boat  he  [Dr.  Shelton]  reached  his  [Buffalo]  parish  in 
the  early  fall  of  1829.      The  city  had  less  than  10,000  in  population,  and  was  considered  a 

frontier  town In  an  address  delivered  by  him  on  an  occasion  celebrating  his 

seventy-eighth  birthday,  he  says  :  '  I  was,  at  my  coming,  in  entire  ignorance  of  western 
habits  and  people.  The  congregation  was  composed  of  persons  from  various  parts  of 
the  nation,  ....  and  many  who  knew  little  of  the  claims  of  the  Church  and  were 
ignorant  of  her  doctrines.  It  can  be  readily  understood  how  nice  a  matter  it  was  to 
me  who  was  bred  in  the  bosom  of  the  Church,  who  believed  all  her  doctrines  and  felt 
bound  to  proclaim  them.  I  taught  doctrines  and  inculcated  opinions  which  had  never 
been  heard  of,  and  which  seemed  not  only  strange  but  so  exclusive  as  to  be  illiberal 
and  uncharitable.'  .    .   '.   . 


Historical  Notes,   1817-1903.  371 

....  "In  these  early  years  his  nearest  clerical  neighbors  were  the  brethren  in 
Canada,  and  the  courteous  friendship  begun  then  lasted  through  his  whole  life.  The 
Lord  Bishop  of  Niagara  when  present  at  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  his  rectorship  said  : 
'  Amongst  the  many  blessings  with  which  a  gracious  God  has  surrounded  me,  I  count 
my  acquaintance  with  Dr.  Shelton  to  be  among  the  greatest.  It  commenced  nearly 
half  a  century  ago,  and  has  been  interrupted  by  not  a  single  unpleasantness.'  .... 
The  Bishop  also  stated  at  that  time,  what  he  repeated  at  the  memorial  service  held  on 
All  Saints  Day,  November  i,  1883,  namely,  'that  it  was  owing  to  the  information  and 
instruction  received  from  Dr.  Shelton  which  led  to  the  publication  of  a  pamphlet  by 
himself  concerning  the  organization  of  the  Church  in  the  Dominion  and  which  resulted 
in  the  present  ecclesiastical  system  established.'  In  speaking  further  of  this  work  in 
its  extent,  he  said  :  '  How  much,  then,  is  he  a  benefactor  who  has  been  instrumental  in 
turning  the  thoughts  of  a  young  friend  into  a  channel  which  has  produced  such  bless- 
ings as  have  been  conferred  upon  the  colonial  and  Irish  branches  of  the  Church  of 
Christ  by  our  synodical  system  copied  in  great  measure  from  the  Church  in  the  United 
States.'  .... 

....    "In    1845   ne  was  married  to  Mrs.  Lucretia  Grosvenor He  called 

their  long  married  life  an  uninterrupted  blessing.  She  was  indeed  a  worthy  help-meet, 
and  her  death,  which  preceded  his  just  a  year,  was  a  blow  from  which  he  never 
recovered 

"The  best  word  which  expresses  the  character  of  Dr.  Shelton  is  strength.  Robust 
in  body,  he  was  also  robust  in  thought.  This  strength  of  character  was  manifest  in 
all  he  said  and  did.  It  impressed  itself  upon  every  person  or  work  with  which  he  was 
connected.  Such  a  strong  man  must  have  made  his  virtues  prominent.  It  produced 
an  integrity  which  was  unqualified.  Every  one  said,  '  He  is  an  honest  man.'  Such  a 
strong  character  could  not  help  but  show  faults  as  prominently,  for  he  could  not  under 
any  circumstances  be  a  dissembler.  He  was  essentially  a  true  man.  These  faults  of 
his  temperament  are  forgotten  in  the  remembrance  of  the  righteousness  which  filled 
out  his  life.  He  was  large-hearted  and  unboundedly  generous.  Since  his  death  the 
statements  are  shown  which  make  him  dispense  one-third  of  his  entire  income  in  cer- 
tain years  for  charity  and  other  pious  works.  One  peculiarity  of  his  temperament  was 
to  be  easily  depressed  and  discouraged,  but  the  rebound  would  follow  with  increased 
power  and  hope.  He  was  not  very  self-dependent  but  modest  and  humble-minded. 
He  distrusted  his  own  powers,  but  when  his  abilities  were  demanded  discharged  his 
public  duties  fearlessly  and  with  usual  success."  .... 

In  this  magazine  article  are  several  typographical  errors  which  should 
be  noted.     On  pages  205  and  206  of  the  magazine,  the  letters  written  by 


372  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

Rev.  Dr.  S.  F.  Jarvis,  in  1S1S,  to  Dr.  Shelton's  father,  the  Rev.  Philo  Shel- 
ton,  in  reference  to  the  imminent  probability  of  his  (the  Rev.  Philo  Shel- 
ton)  being  elected  Bishop  of  Connecticut,  are  printed  in  the  magazine 
as  if  addressed  to  Rev.  William  Shelton,  the  son,  then  a  student  in  his 
twentieth  year.  And,  referring  to  the  system  of  laity  representation  in 
the  Church  of  England  in  the  colonies,  in  the  fifth  line  from  bot- 
tom of  page  210,  by  printing,  "  copied  in  great  measure  for  the  Church 
in  the  United  States,"  the  intended  meaning  of  the  sentence  is  reversed. 
¥  ox  for  read  from. 

Bishop  Coxe,  in  his  memorial  sermon,  preached  on  All  Saints'  Day, 
November  i,  1883,  thus  refers  to  the  words  in  regard  to  Dr.  Shelton 
spoken  by  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Niagara  :  "  He  has  told  us  of  the  adop- 
tion of  the  laity  into  the  councils  of  the  churches  of  the  Dominion, 
and  of  the  fact  that,  in  this  respect  and  others,  the  constitutions  of  the 
colonial  churches  and  of  the  disestablished  Church  of  Ireland  have 
been  patterned  after  ours.  More  than  that,  he  tells  us  that  if  ever  the 
Church  of  England  herself  shall  be  disestablished  by  national  caprice, 
her  constitution,  as  such,  will  be  similar.  Now,  I  know  that  to  the 
Bishop  of  Niagara  the  colonial  churches  are  largely  indebted  for  this 
great  plan  of  reconstruction.  But,  he  tells  us,  he  himself  learned  it 
from  your  late  rector.  Dr.  Shelton  was  thus  the  modest  link  by  which  a 
great  chain  of  unity  has  been  made  complete  throughout  the  Anglo- 
Catholic  world.  This  was  his  greatest  contribution  to  the  general 
work  of  the  Church,  in  his  generation,  and  thereby  the  man  of  God  in 
this  city  has  been  felt,  in  his  influence,  wherever  the  English  language 
is  spoken."  .... 

Other  quotations  from  this  sermon  of  Bishop  Coxe  will  be  found 
on  pages  150-152. 

The  following  extracts  are  from  a  valuable  paper  on  Dr.  Shelton, 
treating  of  him  especially  in  his  capacity  as  a  citizen,  prepared  and 
read  before  the  Buffalo  Historical  Society  on  February  15,  1886,  by 
the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Brown.     The  manuscript  has  not  been  published,  but 


Historical  Notes,   1817-1903.  373 

is  in  the  possession  of  the  society,  and  through  the  thoughtful  cour- 
tesy of  the  secretary,  Frank  H.  Severance,  we  are  enabled  to  make  use 
of  it  here  : 

.  .  .  .  "  From  all  that  can  be  learned,  there  was  no  expressed  wish  on  the  part  of 
the  young  Shelton  at  that  time  [before  1827]  to  seek  the  far  west  as  a  field  of  labor. 
He,  however,  made  an  excursion  to  Canada,  and  went  down  the  St.  Lawrence  in  a 
canoe  with  an  Indian  guide.  After  this  he  was  quite  anxious  to  be  the  guest  of  the 
wonderful  Eagle  Hotel,  which  had  already  obtained  an  extended  reputation  for  its 
excellence.  Walking  down  the  street  he  met  Rev.  Mr.  Searle,  who  at  that  time  was 
the  pastor  of  St.  Paul's.  This  must  have  been  about  two  years  previous  to  his  coming 
to  Buffalo  [to  stay].  Mr.  Searle  prevailed  on  his  young  friend  to  remain  over  Sunday, 
which  he  did,  and  preached  in  the  little  old  frame  church  with  such  effectiveness  that 
the  congregation  determined  to  secure  him,  if  possible,  to  succeed  Mr.  Searle  on  his 
departure.  Mr.  Searle,  too,  evidently  was  much  taken  with  the  young  preacher  and 
seconded  the  efforts  of  the  people  to  obtain  his  services Mr.  Shelton  con- 
cluded at  first  to  give  up  all  idea  of  coming  west.  Mr.  Searle,  February  11,  182S, 
replied  by  letter  to  some  inquiries  made  by  Mr.  Shelton  regarding  the  parish  —  as  to 
salary,  etc.  He  says  the  salary  from  the  parish  is  $550,  from  the  missionary  fund  $125 
—  about  $700  —  which  would  do  for  himself  very  well  if  it  were  not  for  the  numerous 
church  wants  —  'and  moreover  it  was  not  so  much  when  I  came,  but  with  the  rise  of  the 
parish  the  salary  has  risen  $150.'  ....  The  expenses,  he  wrote,  were  about  the 
same  as  in  New  England,  excepting  fuel  and  meats — fuel  good  and  cheap — meats, 
excepting  the  excellent  venison,  very  cheap  and  generally  very  poor.  Mr.  Shelton 
asks,  'What  are  the  real  prospects  of  Buffalo?'  Mr.  Searle  replies,  'neither  so  won- 
derfully great  as  some  have  imagined,  nor  so  very  inconsiderable  as  others  have  repre- 
sented.     It  will  be  a  great  inland  town  and  is  now  advancing  fast  enough  for  permanent 

growth You  would,  in  my  humble  opinion,  do  remarkably  well  for  this  place. 

But  the  other  consideration,  whether  you  would  be  contented  and  happy  in  Buffalo  or  no, 

I  cannot  tell Much,  very  much   people  visit  this  place  every  year  and  would 

expose  you  to  some  agreeable,  interesting  company.  This  is  a  frontier  station,  truly 
an  outpost.'  .... 

"  In  1832  the  cholera  raged  in  the  city,  and  here  was  exhibited  the  fearless  devotion 
to  duty  which  always  characterized  the  life  of  him  of  whom  we  now  write.  It  is 
recorded  that  Dr.  Shelton  was  the  only  clergyman  here  at  that  time  for  live  weeks'  dura- 
tion of  the  scourge.  R.  W.  Haskins,  Esq.,  in  a  letter,  calls  that  year  of  the  cholera 
'  a  memorable  year.'  It  was  the  year  in  which  the  cholera  first  made  its  appearance  in 
the  United  States.  '  Its  fame  as  the  mysterious  destroyer  of  our  race  had  preceded  its 
approach  from   Europe,  and  when  it  actually  appeared  among  us,  stout  nerves  were 


374  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

shaken,  and  consternation  was  as  general  as  it  well  could  be,  without  becoming  abso- 
lutely universal.'  .... 

"The  new  minister  at  once,  on  coming  to  Buffalo,  sought  the  comforts  of  the 
renowned  Eagle  Tavern,  and  his  long-personal  friend,  our  worthy  and  venerable  towns- 
man, Hon.  Lewis  F.  Allen,  told  me  he  remembered  him  very  well  as  one  of  the  board- 
ers—  always   in   his  place,  an  affable,  dignified  and  welcome  guest.      He  remained  at 

the  Eagle  until  the  sad  departure  of  Mr.  Rathbun Dr.  Shelton,  I  find  from 

the  remembrance  of  those  who  knew  him  in  the  early  life  of  his  ministry  here,  was 
always  interested  and  foremost  in  every  movement  which  had  for  its  object  the  welfare 
of  the  town  and  the  improvement  of  society.  As  one  remarked  to  me  —  whatever 
came  up  to  produce  any  stir,  the  Domine  was  always  on  hand.  When  the  old  Kremlin 
block  burned  [1832]  he  was  there  as  a  fireman,  working  with  might  and  main  to  sub- 
due the  flames.  Fond  as  he  was  of  literary  pursuits,  it  was  but  natural  that  we  dis- 
cover him  associated  with  well-known  names  in  the  lyceum  and  literary  associations  of 

the  town Indeed,  I  find  among  his  papers  a  theme  on   '  The  foundation  of  a 

fund  for  the  support  of  literary  men.'  This  was  written  as  early  as  18 17,  and  must 
have  been  his  subject  when  he  graduated  from  the  academy 

[The  original  of  this  early  article  by  Dr.  Shelton  is  in  the  possession  of  the  Buffalo 
Historical  Society.] 

"Dr.    Shelton  was  chosen  the  first  president  of  the  Young   Men's  Association,  in 

1835 It  was,  if  I  mistake  not,  at  this  time  (about  1835),  that  the  noble  and 

splendid  John  C.  Lord  began  his  ministry  here,  and  with  whom  Dr.  Shelton  had  the 
most  affectionate  and  fraternal  companionship.  Positive  and  strong  as  their  tempera- 
ments were,  they  ever  held  the  other  in  honor  and  esteem  through  their  lives,  and  Dr. 
Shelton  spoke  of  it  as  a  blessed  privilege  to  enjoy  the  friendship  of  this  excellent  citi- 
zen and  pastor.  When  the  intrepid  soldier  of  the  Cross  laid  aside  his  armor,  it  was 
his  old  friend  who  came  to  minister  with  others  at  his  death-bed.  Once,  in  a  tremend- 
ous storm,  the  winter,  I  think,  in  which  Dr.  Lord  died,  Dr.  Shelton  sought  to  reach 
the  home  of  his  old  friend  on  horseback.  There  was  no  roadway  —  every  path  was 
blocked  with  snow.  The  family  saw  a  form  struggling  in  the  drift  as  if  trying  to  reach 
the  house.  The  farm  hand  was  sent  to  the  assistance  of  Dr.  Shelton,  who  had  to 
abandon  his  horse,  and  reached  the  house  much  exhaused  from  his  labors.  [Dr.  Lord's 
home  was  far  out  Delaware  Avenue,  opposite  Forest  Lawn,  and  was,  at  that  time, 
almost  in  the  open  country.]  It  was  the  Doctor's  voice,  too,  which  was  heard  com- 
mitting his  friend  to  his  resting-place  in  Forest  Lawn."  .... 

"He  traveled  throughout  Europe  and  visited  the  Holy  Land  [in  185 1  and  again  in 
1864-5].  The  journal  of  his  travels  shows  him  to  have  been  an  industrious  sight-seer, 
and  close  observer  of  men  and  things.  He  returned  much  invigorated  by  his  trip,  and 
entered  again  with  great  fervor  into   his  work.      Dr.  Shelton  was  pronounced  in  all  he 


Historical  Notes,    iSi/-icjoj.  375 

undertook  of  whatever  nature.  He  was  this  or  nothing.  So  was  he  in  his  loyalty  to 
his  country  as  he  was  to  his  Church,  and  though  no  public  mention  do  I  find  of  any 
special  service  at  the  time  of  the  war,  yet  I  am  informed  that  in  every  effort  of  the  citi- 
zens in  behalf  of  the  country  and  the  soldiers  he  had  his  full  share,  and  discharged  his 
duty  with  the  same  zeal  which  marked  his  every  work.  The  Doctor  had  many  valued 
friends  abroad,  especially  in  England,  but  he  never  allowed  his  friendship  to  permit  any 
lack  of  deference  in  behalf  of  his  country,  and  he  really  by  his  correspondence  accom- 
plished much  good. 

"  One  of  his  friends  in  England  was  Sir  John  Seymour.  He  addressed  him  an 
epistle  couched  in  most  earnest  and  indeed  vehement  language  to  protest  against  the 
supposed  action  of  England  when  Mason  and  Slidell-  were  arrested.  I  have  seen  very 
long  letters  from  his  other  English  friends  showing  the  correspondence  to  have  been 
voluminous 

"As  a  clergyman,  he  attained  a  national  leputation  in  the  Church  for  the  fearless 
defense  of  Christian  truth  and  for  the  eminence  of  his  Christian  character.  He  was 
signally  honored  by  his  Diocesan Bishop  DeLancey  addresses  him  in  his  cor- 
respondence as  dear  Shelton,  and  shows  the  most  unqualified  confidence  in  his  friend- 
ship and  judgment.  This  was  mutual  —  and  so  with  the  present  beloved  Diocesan 
[Bishop  Coxe] — him  he  held  in  high  honor  and  affection 

"A  word  of  him  as  you  all  knew  him  —  to  remind  you  of  the  sincerity  of  his  char- 
acter—  the  honesty  of  his  purpose  —  and  the  generosity  of  his  heart.  The  poor  he 
never  turned  empty  away,  and  he  often  admitted  how  he  had  been  imposed  upon  by 
the  unworthy  —  yet,  as  he  said,  he  could  not  help  it.      This  feature  in  his  life  was  most 

prominent On   the   bitterest,   coldest   nights   in   winter  you  would  meet  him 

with  a  huge  bundle  under  his  arm  going  to  the  homes  of  the  destitute.  Once  he  came 
in  from  one  of  his  visitations  and  asked  his  wife  for  some  bed  clothing.  She  said, 
'My  dear  Doctor,  you  have  nearly  taken  everything  already.'  'Never  mind,'  he  said, 
'  I  must  have  it,'  and  stripping  the  clothing  from  the  bed,  he  started  out  on  his  errand 
of  mercy 

....  "  It  is  most  proper  to  mention  here  his  intimacy  and  strong  attachment  to  the 
genuine  brother  and  friend,  Dr.  Ingersoll.  In  the  closing  of  their  lives  respectively  they 
were  brought  very  near  together,  and  Dr.  Ingersoll  was  seldom  a  single  day  from  his 
side.  The  gentle,  amiable,  confiding  temperament  of  the  one  —  in  connection  with 
the  strong,  stern,  noble  and  assertive  one  of  the  other,  were  but  the  deepening  richness 
of  color  and  the  lighter  glory  in  the  same  Christian  character —  like  St.  Paul  and  St. 
John  —  filling  out  so  grandly  the  lives  of  these  devoted  servants  of  God 

"The  testimony  of  the  bishop  ....    is,  'That  a  Shelton  in  every  town 

would  be  salt  to  the  nation.'  ....  So  we  bear  him  in  blessed  memory  —  whose 
work  cannot  be  computed  by  figures —  whose  life  cannot  be  estimated  in  years.      Bound 


376  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

up  111  the  book  of  his  living  are  the  records  of  lives  whose  histories  cannot  be  told. 
The  tear-stained  pages  are  there  —  for  he  was  ever  ready  to  minister  to  the  sorrowing. 
The  brightly  illuminated  pages,  too,  are  there,  for  he  ...  .  shared  with  all  their 
bright  days  of  happy  reunion.  The  heroic  tale  is  part  of  his  life,  for  he  was  fearless 
and  brave  —  in  all  his  duty.  These  all,  in  their  endless  variety  and  influence,  went 
to  make  up  the  unwritten  history  of  our  venerable  father,  now  at  rest. 

"  He  was  a  dutiful  citizen  —  a  true  friend  —  an  honest  man  —an  humble  Christian 
—  a  faithful  servant  of  the  Most  High  God." 


The  terrible  time  of  the  cholera  epidemic,  in  1832,  referred  to  in 
the  quotation  from  Dr.  Brown's  paper,  is  graphically  described  by  the 
late  Hon.  Lewis  F.  Allen,  in  his  article,  in  Volume  IV.  of  the  Publica- 
tions of  the  Buffalo  Historical  Society.  Mr.  Allen  characterizes  Loring 
Peirce,  the  sexton  of  St.  Paul's,  as  "  a  hero,"  for  his  tireless  and  inval- 
uable services  during  this  time  of  appalling  trouble.  (See  also  the 
footnote,  pages  107,  108,  this  volume.) 

In  Mr.  Allen's  article,  as  indeed  quite  generally  in  all  the  articles 
referring  to  him  which  have  been  printed  in  the  newspapers  and 
elsewhere,  the  name  has  been  misspelled  "  Pierce."  "  Loren  Perce  "  is 
another  incorrectly  printed  variation.  He,  himself,  wrote  it  invaria- 
bly Loring  Peirce,  a  form  of  spelling  well  known  in  New  England. 
His  autograph  signatures  on  the  subscription  lists  for  the  building 
of  St.  Paul's,  and  on  numerous  receipts  still  in  existence,  are  distinctly 
written  and  are  always  the  same.     The  name  was  pronounced  "Purse." 

The  cholera  returned  again  to  Buffalo  in  1834,  with  equal  violence, 
but  the  terror  of  the  people  was  not  quite  so  great,  owing  to  the 
improved  facilities  for  coping  with  it,  and  to  a  better  knowledge  of  its 
treatment. 

Again,  in  1849,  the  dreadful  scourge  reappeared,  at  which  time 
many  victims  fell  beneath  its  ravages,  among  them  both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
William  Williams,  who  died  on  the  same  day,  August  1,  1849.  Mr. 
Williams  was  a  prominent  member  of  St.  Paul's,  a  vestryman,  the 
efficient  treasurer  of  the  parish,  and  a  member  of  the  building  com- 
mittee for  the  new  church.     (Page  57.) 


Historical  Notes,   1817-1903.  ijj 

September  1,  1S49,  Jacob  A.  Barker,  writing  to  Mr.  Upjohn,  refers 
to  the  heavy  blow  sustained  by  the  church  in  Mr.  Williams's  death, 
and  says,  further,  that  the  general  health  of  the  town  is  so  far  improved 
that  the  work  on  the  foundations  was  then  about  to  begin.  He  refers 
in  other  letters,  at  that  period,  to  the  delay  in  the  building  operations 
caused  by  the  terrible  sickness  —  of  the  impossibility  of  having  a  quo- 
rum of  the  building  committee,  most  of  whom  had  taken  their  families 
and  left  the  town  —  and  of  the  great  difficulty  in  getting  workmen 
sufficient  to  do  the  excavating.     Cholera  came  again  in  1854. 

Through  all  of  these  terrible  visitations.  Dr.  Shelton  remained 
at  his  post,  often  walking  several  times  a  day  to  the  cemeteries  to  read 
the  burial  service  over  the  victims. 

Forest  Lawn  Cemetery  was  not  used  until  July,  1850. 


The  following  copies  of  the  original  autograph  letters  are  of  inter- 
est as  bearing  upon  two  important  points  in  Dr.  Shelton's  early  life  : 

"I  hereby  certify  that  William  Shelton  has  for  more  than  one  year  past  been  a  can- 
didate for   Holy  Orders  in  this  Diocese,  and  that  he  is  now,  at  his  request,  dismissed 
from  the  same,  for  the  purpose  of  connecting  himself  with  the  Diocese  of  New  York. 
"New  Haven,  June  28,  1823 

"T.   C.   BROWNELL, 
"Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Connecticut." 

"The  Rev.  Wm.  Shelton,  a  Presbyter  of  the  Diocese  of  Connecticut,  intending  to 
visit  the  western  part  of  this  State  on  his  way  to  the  Falls  of  Niagara,  I  take  this  mode 
of  introducing  him  to  the  clergy  and  to  the  members  and  friends  of  our  Church.  Mr. 
Shelton  is  an  alumnus  of  the  General  Theological  Seminary,  and  is  highly  esteemed  by 
me  for  his  talents,  his  piety  and  general  worth. 

"JOHN  HENRY  HOBART, 
"  New  York,  July  3,  1827.  "  Bishop  Diocese  of  New  York." 


In  an  old  book  of  "Records  of  Ministerial  Duties,"  dated  1824,  in 
Dr.  Shelton's  handwriting,  are  the  following  entries  : 

"Was  ordained  [deacon]  by  Bishop  Brownell,  at  Cheshire,  Connecticut,  August  6, 
1823. 


378  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

••Arrived  at  Plattsburg  [New  York],  August  II,  1823. 

"  On  the  23d  day  of  July,  1824,  I  gave  up  the  missionary  station  at  Plattsburg, 
and  returned  to  Connecticut 

"  Memoranda  of  the  Parish  of  St.  Paul's,  Red  Hook  [New  York],  October  1,  1824. 
Arrived  at  Upper  Red  Hook  the  last  of  August,  and  preached  until  the  meeting  of  the 
convention,  at  which  time  accepted  the  proposals  of  the  wardens  and  vestry,  which 
weri.-  that  I  should  remain  with  them,  and  receive  for  my  support  the  amount  of  sub- 
scriptions—  420    dollars  —  and    whatever    over    should    be  collected At    the 

expiration  of  my  year's  engagement  at  Red  Hook  ....  I  determined  to  leave,  not 
knowing  whither  I  should  go 

'•After  preaching  about  a  month  in  the  parishes  of  Fairfield  [Trinity  Church]  and 
Weston  [Connecticut]  on  New  Year's  Day,  1826,  my  regular  year  commenced.  Here, 
living  in  my  own  home  and  surrounded  by  my  hereditary  friends,  and  protecting  my 
own  family,  I  preach  over  the  bones  of  my  venerated  father  —  usefully,  I  trust  —  with 
a  salary  of  $450.  The  parish  of  Fairfield  contains  about  fifty  families,  all  in  moderate 
circumstances,  and  living  in  much  simplicity."     (See  pages  40,  41,  149,  150,  151,  152.) 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Shelton  was  ordained  to  the  priesthood,  by  Bishop 
Brownell,  May  17,  1826,  in  Trinity  Church,  Fairfield.  (Report  of  the 
bishop  to  the  convention  of  the  Diocese  of  Connecticut,  June,  1826.) 


In  a  paper  read  before  the  Buffalo  Historical  Society  by  William 
Hodge,  February  4,  1879,  entitled  "Buffalo  Cemeteries,"  is  the 
following  : 

....    "The   first    interment   in   Forest   Lawn  was  that  of  John    Lay,  Jr 

Late  one  summer  afternoon,  July  12,  1850,  the  quiet  of  the  place  was  broken  by  the 
entrance  of  the  first  funereal  train  ;  and  at  the  going  down  of  the  sun,  as  the  earth 
closed  over  the  mortal  remains  of  John  Lay,  Jr.,  began  the  peopling  of  this  new 
necropolis  of  the  Queen  City  of  the  Lakes.  On  that  occasion  were  heard  for  the  first 
time  in  this  cemetery  the  words  of  the  lofty  and  impressive  burial  service  of  the  Epis- 
copal Church,  as  Mr.  Lay  was  consigned  to  his  final  resting  place,  under  the  direction 
of  him  who  had  performed  this  office  for  two  generations  of  his  fellow  citizens  ;  I  mean 
the  late  Loring  Peirce,  so  many  years  our  'city  sexton.'  Since  then,  how  rapidly  has 
been  fulfilled  the  saying  of  the  venerable  and  beloved  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Cathedral, 
who  officiated  at  that  time,  and,  as  he  surveyed  the  place,  bethinking  him  of  its 
intended  purpose,  exclaimed,  '  What  a  flood  of  grief  will  here  be  poured  out.'  "  .  .  .  . 
(  Vnhime  I.,  "Publications  of  the  Buffalo  Historical  Society.") 


Historical  Notes,   1817-1903.  379 

No  pictures  are  in  existence,  save  those  in  the  recollections  of  the 
older  citizens,  showing  Dr.  Shelton  as  he  was  wont  to  go  about  the  city, 
years  ago,  upon  errands  of  business  or  mercy,  mounted  on  his  favorite 
horse.  Dr.  Shelton  was  a  fine  horseman,  and  sat  firmly  and  well,  feeling 
and  appearing  perfectly  at  home  in  the  saddle.  He  continued  this  almost 
daily  custom  until  considerably  beyond  his  three  score  years  and  ten. 
Memory,  only,  recalls  the  dignified  figure  and  the  sedately-stepping  horse 
as  they  passed  down  the  quiet,  shady  streets  of  the  Buffalo  of  those  days. 

The  remembrance  of  a  joke  upon  the  Doctor  has  outlasted  more  than 
half  a  century.  When  the  rectory  on  Pearl  Street  was  completed  in 
1847,  Dr.  Shelton  felt  that,  being  parish  property,  it  should  not  be 
regarded  merely  as  his  personal  residence. 

Accordingly,  one  day  a  plate  appeared  upon  the  door,  bearing  the 
words  "  St.  Paul's  Rectory." 

The  rector's  old  friend,  Sheldon  Thompson,  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  parish,  passing  slowly  down  Pearl  Street,  saw  the  little  sign. 

Turning,  he  ascended  the  steps  and  rang  the  bell.  "  Is  Saint  Paul 
in  ?  "  he  inquired  solicitously,  and  then  hurried  away.  What  the  Doctor 
said  when  he  heard  of  this  bit  of  pleasantry  is  not  recorded,  but  there  is 
no  doubt  as  to  what  he  did.  The  inscription  promptly  disappeared  and 
the  well-remembered  silver  plate,  reading  simply  "William  Shelton," 
took  its  place.  

The  following  little  story  is  told  of  Dr.  Shelton,  and  is  so  charac- 
teristic of  one  phase  of  his  personality  that  it  should  not  be  lost.  In 
the  old  days,  the  young  people  of  the  parish  used  to  meet  together  in 
the  basement  of  the  church  in  the  week  before  Christmas,  to  make 
wreaths  and  garlands  of  evergreens  to  decorate  the  edifice  at  the  great 
festival,  and  these  meetings  often  called  forth  much  innocent  jollity. 
Upon  one  occasion  (in  the  50's)  it  was  decided  to  have  an  impromptu 
dance  in  the  basement  as  a  reward  for  the  steady  work  of  the  evening. 
Dr.  Shelton  coming  in  said,  "  I  hear  there  is  some  talk  of  a  dance  here 
to-night."     "  Yes,  Doctor,"  replied  one  of  the  young  men,  "  we  thought 


380  History  of  St.  Paul's  CJnirch. 

we  would  have  a  little  dance  after  we  finished  the  work."  "Well, 
snapped  the  Doctor  in  a  terrible  voice,  "  you  can't  have  it  —  I  won't 
allow  it."  There  was  much  murmuring,  but  nothing  to  be  said  against 
the  Doctor's  command.  Later  he  came  back,  and,  saying  sternly,  "  I 
want  to  see  you  across  the  street  at  my  house  —  I  have  something  to 
say  to  you,"  turned  and  went  out.  Much  rebellion  on  the  part  of  the 
young  people  followed  at  a  prospect  of  further  lecturing  from  the 
irate  Doctor,  and  some  declared  that  they  would  not  go,  but  it  was 
finally  decided  to  adjourn  to  the  rectory  in  a  body,  as  to  refuse  would 
be  disrespectful  and  likely  to  hurt  the  Doctor's  feelings.  Dr.  Shelton 
met  them  at  the  door  of  the  rectory,  and  with  a  kindly  gleam  in  his  eye, 
behind  a  fierce  frown,  said  :  "  The  entire  church  is  consecrated,  and  no 
place  for  dancing  —  you  may  dance  here."  Then  the  frown  vanished, 
and  with  beaming  face  he  shook  hands  and  welcomed  each  one  by 
name.  Two  fiddlers  had  been  brought  in,  and,  after  a  merry  dance, 
the  folding  doors  at  the  back  of  the  large  parlors  were  thrown  back, 
and  a  bountiful  supper  was  served,  after  which  they  all  went  home 
feeling  more  than  ever  that  Dr.  Shelton  was  a  father  to  each  and  all. 


Sometime  in  1870,  a  mortgage  had  been  placed  upon  the  Pearl  Street 
Rectory,  incurred  in  order  to  complete  the  fund  for  the  main  spire,  etc., 
of  the  church.  This  debt  was  being  extinguished  by  frequent  offertories 
for  what  Dr.  Shelton  called  "  The  Tower  Fund."  One  Sunday  morning, 
when  Bishop  Bissell  of  Vermont  was  present,  Dr.  Shelton  announced 
that  "  the  collection  to  be  taken  up  after  the  sermon  would  be  for  the 
Tower  Fund,"  whereupon,  to  the  delight  of  the  congregation,  Bishop 
Bissell  entering  the  pulpit,  announced  his  text  from  St.  Luke,  xiv.,  28  : 
"  For  which  of  you  intending  to  build  a  tower,  sitteth  not  down  first,  and 
counteth  the  cost,  whether  he  have  sufficient  to  finish  it  ?  "  It  is  needless 
to  add  that  the  good  bishop  was  wholly  innocent  of  any  local  application. 


Dr.  Shelton  took  a  deep  interest  in  western  missions,  and  especially 
in  Nashotah  in  its  earlier  years,  and  there  was  long  a  "  Nashotah  So- 
ciety "  in  the  parish,  to  aid  the  seminary,  which  was  founded  in  1842. 


Historical  Notes,   iSij-igoj.  381 

Shelton  Hall,  a  handsome  stone  building  now  used  at  Nashotah  House 
as  a  commons  and  professors'  residence,  is  named  for  Dr.  Shelton,  and 
was  largely  built  through  his  own  generosity  and  that  of  St.  Paul's 
Parish.  In  the  building  is  an  oil  portrait  of  him,  and  a  number  of 
views  of  St.  Paul's,  Buffalo.  In  the  chapel  of  the  seminary  are  sev- 
eral memorial  windows,  given  by  St.  Paul's  :  one  to  Bishop  Seabury, 
one  to  the  Rev.  Philo  Shelton,  one  to  the  late  Edward  S.  Warren,  and 
another  to  his  young  son.  Dr.  Shelton  was  for  many  years  a  trustee  of 
Nashotah  House. 

The  Gospel  Messenger,  in  an  article  published  in  1862,  describes  the 
stained  glass  window,  given  by  Dr.  Shelton  in  memory  of  his  father, 
at  Nashotah.  The  window  bears  the  Shelton  coat  of  arms  with  the 
motto,  "  Nil  sine  Deo"  and  the  following  inscription  : 

"A  Filial  Memorial 

to  the 

Rev.  Philo  Shelton,  A.  M., 

a  faithful  and  true  churchman, 

who,  for  nearly  forty  years,  was  the  beloved  and  venerated 

Rector  of  the  parishes  of 

Fairfield  and  Bridgeport 

Connecticut. 

He  was  the  first  person  ordained  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Samuel  Seabury,  D.  D., 

the  first  Bishop  of  the  American  Church,  A.  D.  1785. 

Born  1754.     Died  1825." 

.  .  .  .  "  My  venerated  father  lived  forty  years  in  the  only  parish 
he  ever  served.  My  younger  brother  lived  thirty-seven  years  in  the 
only  charge  he  ever  had,  and  I  myself  have  presided  over  my  own 
beloved  parish  forty-eight  years.  These  are  examples  of  stability 
which  do  not  often  appear  in  this  changing  and  uncertain  age."  (Rev. 
Dr.  Shelton,  in  an  address  at  the  reunion  of  the  Shelton  family,  at 
Birmingham,  Conn.,  June  14,  1877.) 

For  references  to  the  Rev.  Philo  Shelton's  ordination,  see  foot  note, 
page  40,  this  volume.  Also,  "  History  of  Stratford  and  Bridgeport, 
Connecticut,"  by  Rev.  Samuel  Orcutt,  Part  I.,  pages  623-625.  Tablets 
to  the  memory  of  the  Rev.  Philo  Shelton  were  placed  in  the  old  church 


382  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

in  Mill  Plain,  Fairfield  (under  the  chancel  of  which  he  was  at  first  buried), 
and  in  St.  John's  Church,  Bridgeport.  Dr.  Shelton's  mother  survived 
her  husband  thirteen  years,  and  "  left  a  name  only  to  be  loved  and  hon- 
ored by  her  friends."  She  is  buried  by  the  side  of  her  husband  and  two 
daughters  in  Mountain  Grove  Cemetery,  Bridgeport.  In  the  inscription 
on  the  marble  monument,  erected  by  Dr.  Shelton  to  their  memory,  he 
speaks  of  his  father  as  "a  faithful  pastor,  a  guileless  and  godly  man." 


On  Monday,  March  13,  1876,  occurred  the  formal  opening  of  the 
new  City  Hall.  At  the  dedication  of  the  Common  Council  Chamber, 
in  the  afternoon,  the  prayer  at  the  opening  of  the  exercises  was  by 
the  Rev.  Dr.  John  C.  Lord,  and  the  benediction  at  the  close  was  by 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton.         

The  formal  congratulations  referred  to  on  page  124  were  extended 
to  Dr.  Shelton  on  the  occasion  of  the  semi-centennial  of  his  rectorate, 
by  the  Ministers'  Meeting,  principally  composed  of  thirty  Buffalo  cler- 
gymen of  the  Presbyterian,  Methodist  and  Baptist  churches.  On  the 
evening  of  September  15,  1879,  the  ministers  called  upon  Dr.  Shelton 
in  a  body  at  the  rectory,  and  the  resolutions  which  had  been  adopted 
at  a  meeting  held  at  Calvary  Presbyterian  Church  that  afternoon,  were 
read  by  the  Rev.  A.  T.  Chester,  D.  D.     They  were  as  follows  : 

"The  Ministers'  Meeting  of  Buffalo,  composed  of  thirty  clergymen  of  different 
denominations,  offer  hearty  congratulations  to  the  Rev.  William  Shelton,  D.  D. ,  rector 
of  St.  Paul's  Church  of  this  city,  who  has  now  occupied  this  honored  position  for  the 
period  of  fifty  years.  Few  are  permitted  to  preach  the  Gospel  and  administer  the 
ordinances  of  the  Church  continuously  for  half  a  century,  very  few  have  exercised  these 
sacred  functions  for  so  long  a  period  in  the  same  congregations.  We  should  not  be 
mindful  as  we  ought  of  the  providence  of  God,  nor  grateful  as  we  ought  for  such 
marked  favor  to  His  Church,  if  we  failed  to  take  some  notice  of  this  anniversary  which 
bounds  fifty  years  of  faithful  service,  of  thorough  attachment  to  the  doctrines  of  the 
•  rOspel,  of  heroic  devotion  to  the  cause  of  Christ,  our  common  Master,  in  one  who,  as 
our  neighbor  and  friend,  has  also  illustrated  in  all  these  fifty  years  the  characteristics  of 
a  high-minded  Christian  gentleman.  We,  therefore,  representing  so  many  branches  of 
the  Church  of  Christ  on  this  jubilee,  take  great  pleasure  in  adding  our  voices  to  the 
general  congratulations   heard   on  every  side,  and  we   join  most  earnestly  in  the  prayer 


Historical  Notes,   1817-1903.  383 

that  this  useful  and  honored  life  may  continue  to  be  under  the  special  care  of  Him  who 
has  ordered  it  beyond  its  four-score  years,  and  that  when  the  summons  comes  to  close 
this  earthly  work,  the  Master  may  say,  'Well  done,' and  receive  His  faithful  servant 
into  an  everlasting  habitation." 

Dr.  Shelton  was  deeply  moved,  and  in  his  response  said  that  there 
had  been  nothing  among  the  happenings  of  his  anniversary  which  had 
given  him  more  gratification.  This  event,  as  rare  as  it  was  appropri- 
ate, made  a  lasting  impression  upon  Dr.  Shelton,  and  showed  him,  as 
few  things  could  have  done,  the  veneration  in  which  he  was  held  by 
the  beloved  city  of  his  adoption.  In  later  years  he  often  referred  to 
it,  with  tears  of  sincere  pleasure  and  emotion  in  his  eyes. 


On  the  morning  of  Easter  Monday,  March  29,  1880,  there  appeared 
in  the  Buffalo  Express  a  certain  locally  famous  editorial  entitled 
"  Now  by  St.  Paul's,"  written  by  the  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  paper, 
the  late  James  N.  Matthews,  who  was  not  one  of  Dr.  Shelton's  parish- 
ioners. In  the  course  of  this  editorial,  so  just  and  beautiful  a  tribute 
is  paid  to  Dr.  Shelton,  that  it  seems  fitting  to  quote  it  here  : 

.  .  .  .  "St.  Paul's  Church  and  its  venerable  rector  have  long  been  objects  of  pride 
and  affection  with  our  whole  community.  Where  is  there  another  structure  which 
elicits  so  much  of  the  people's  admiration  as  this  beautiful  church  ?  Where  is  there 
another  citizen  who  commands  so  much  of  their  respect  as  the  grand  old  man  to  whose 
Christian  zeal,  untiring  energy,  and  unselfish  liberality  they  are  indebted  for  it?  It  is 
impossible  to  circumscribe  within  the  limits  of  St.  Paul's  Parish  and  congregation  the 
almost  filial  interest  with  which  Dr.  Shelton  and  his  church  are  regarded  by  nearly  every 

man,  woman    and  child  in  Buffalo In  his  eighty-first  year  he  could  safely 

throw  himself  upon  the  fidelity  and  affection  of  a  people  with  whom  he  has  walked  in 
God,  ministering  unto  them  in  all  holy  things,  more  than  half  a  century,  in  season 
and  out  of  season,  in  sickness  and  in  health,  in  the   death-chamber  and  at  the  open 


Earls  ]l)ears  of  tbe  Cburch  in  Buffalo. 

From  a  published  sermon  by  the  Rev.  Charles  Wells  Hayes,  D.  D., 
entitled  "  Early  Years  of   the  Church  in  Buffalo,"  preached   for  the 


384  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

seventy-seventh  anniversary  of  Grace  Church,  Black  Rock,  in  1901,  the 
following  extracts  are  made  : 

....  "  Not  until  1816  comes  the  first  mention  of  church  services  in  Buffalo,  appa- 
rently late  in  the  fall  of  that  year,  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  Johnston,  '  missionary  in  Gene- 
esee  and  Niagara  counties.'  I  wish  we  knew  more  about  this  first  Buffalo  clergyman, 
who,  ordered  deacon  June  17,  181 6,  began  his  missionary  work  three  months  later,  by 
giving  two  Sundays  at  Batavia  to  one  in  Buffalo.  He  was  afterwards  a  faithful  pioneer 
missionary  in  Ohio  under  Bishop  Chase,  and  died  of  cholera  in  Cincinnati,  May  22, 
1833.  Batavia  was  then  a  much  more  important  place  than  Buffalo,  and  a  parish  was 
already  organized  there.  But  Mr.  Johnston  did  good  work  here  also,  resulting  in  the 
organization  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  February  10,  18 17. 

....  "The  most  noteworthy  fact  of  the  year  [1821]  was  the  consecration  of  St. 
Paul's  Church  by  Bishop  Hobart,  February  25,  1821.  The  bishop  says,  in  recording 
the  consecration  of  this  'neat  and  commodious  edifice  on  the  banks  of  Lake  Erie,  at 
Buffalo,'  that  'this  is  comparatively  a  new  village,  having  been  settled  little  more  than 
twenty  years  [in  fact  it  had  been  burned  to  the  ground  only  seven  years  before],  and  I 
experienced  high  gratification  in  witnessing  the  spirited  exertions  of  the  congregation 
in  the  erection  of  their  edifice.'  How  many  of  you  who  are  here  to-day  remember 
that  'neat  and  commodious  edifice?'  My  earliest  recollection  of  it,  as  a  boy  of  five 
years  old,  is  of  wonder  at  its  grandeur  and  beauty,  although  my  Canandaigua  home 
boasted  of  what  Bishop  Hobart  calls,  in  the  Christian  Journal of  18 1 7,  'a  building  of 
beautiful  and  imposing  exterior,  a  model  for  other  churches.'  From  Canandaigua,  a 
half-day's  stage  ride  to  the  flourishing  village  of  Rochester,  and  thence  twenty-two 
hours  —  a  night  and  a  day  —  in  the  luxurious  packet  boats  (as  we  thought  them)  of  the 
Erie  Canal,  gave  me  my  first  sight  of  that  first  Buffalo  church.      My  remembrance  of 

its  exterior  is  somewhat  vague Once  inside,  three  things  chiefly  impressed 

themselves  upon  me,  and  are  fixed  in  memory  :  the  magnificent  chandeliers,  all  glass, 
filled  with  candles  which  I  firmly  believed  to  be  of  purest  wax  ;  the  great  organ  (as 
I  thought  it)  at  one  end,  and  at  the  other,  towering  up  above  the  broad  white  front  of 
the  'reading  desk,'  the  imposing  form  and  face  of  deai  old  Dr.  Shelton  in  his  snowy 
surplice  of  many  folds,  mysteriously  transparent  bands,  and  broad,  black  scarf  (stoles 
were  unheard  of  then)—  a  form  and  face  I  learned  to  know  and  love  better  through 
many  a  year  after."  .... 

The  following  extracts  are  from  a  letter,  dated  August  7,  1902, 
written  to  Howard  H.  Baker,  by  George  L.  Newman  of  Charlottes- 
ville, Virginia,  formerly  of  Buffalo  : 

....    "I  became  one  of  Mr.  Webster's  family  in   1S30,  and,  of  course,  attended 


Historical  Notes,   iSij-igoj.  385 

church  with  him  (he  was  a  warden).  I  remained  attached  to  St.  Paul's  until  the 
organization  of  Trinity  Parish,  in  1836.  Mr.  Shelton  boarded  with  Mrs.  Rathbun. 
Every  Sunday  he  came  to  our  house  to  supper.  His  salary  was,  I  believe,  #600.  I 
can  name  a  number  of  the  families  attending  there  in  1830.  There  were  the  Eatons, 
Strykers,  Thompsons,  Tillinghasts,  Pierre  A.  Barkers,  Manly  Colton,  Braces,  H. 
Colton,  Staats,  J.  A.  Barker,  Aliens,  Wheelers,  Kimberlys,  Websters,  Fords, 
Radcliffes,  Athearns,  Kips,  James  D.  Sheppard,  organist  and  leader  of  the  choir. 

I  wonder  how  many  there  are  living  now  who  can  remember  those  times.  John 
Pease  was  there,  about  eighteen  years  old,  I  imagine.  The  only  means  of  heating  the 
church  was  a  stove  in  the  vestibule  for  four  foot  wood.  Loring  Peirce  was  sexton,  and 
every  Sunday  after  the  congregation  was  seated  he  would  tip-toe  in,  carrying  the  little 
foot-stoves  he  had  filled  with  embers,  distributing  them  to  the  female  part  of  the  audi- 
ence. Coal  was  an  unknown  fuel  in  Buffalo  at  that  period.  Mr.  Webster  was  captain 
of  the  only  fire  company,  Cataract  No.  1.  Many  householders  had  leather  fire  buckets 
marked  with  their  names  hung  up  in  their  halls  ready  for  an  emergency.  There  were  no 
water  reservoirs,  and  the  good  wives  of  the  village  were  supplied  with  water  for  the  weekly 
wash  by  Dutch  John,  who  perambulated  the  streets  with  a  cask  of  it,  crying  "  Vater, 
Yater."  I  am  writing  of  1830,  when  I  went  to  Buffalo.  There  was  not  a  foot  of  pav- 
ing in  the  village,  and  very  few  except  earth  sidewalks.  In  winter  the  boys  used  to 
slide  on  Main  Street  from  corner  of  Crow  (Exchange)  Street  to  the  canal."  .... 


It  may  be  interesting  to  add  here,  as  an  instance  of  the  early  activi- 
ties of  St.  Paul's,  that  Grace  Church,  Sandusky,  Ohio,  was  founded  by 
Zenas  Ward  Barker,  son  of  Zenas  Barker,  and  his  sister,  Mrs.  John  G. 
Camp,  and  that  it  was  through  the  efforts  of  Mrs.  Camp  that  the  first 
funds  to  start  that  church  were  secured  from  St.  Paul's  Parish,  Buffalo. 
The  corner  stone  was  laid  in  1835,  by  Dr.  Shelton.  Alanson  Palmer 
gave  money  for  chandeliers  of  elegant  design.  Mrs.  John  G.  Camp 
was  also  a  sister  of  Jacob  A.  Barker.     (See  pages  9,  10.) 

Zhe  Banfe  of  Enolano  ano  St.  Paul's. 

A  curious  fact,  and  one  little  known,  is  that  the  Bank  of  England 
once  owned  a  pew  in  the  old  frame  edifice  of  St.  Paul's.  This  hap- 
pened in  the  following  way  :  About  the  year  1848,  R.  Hargreave  Lee, 
an  Englishman  residing  in  Buffalo,  and  a  member  of  and  pew  owner  in 


386  History  of  St.  Paul 's  Church. 

St.  Paul's,  having  become  financially  involved,  was  obliged  to  make 
over  to  the  Bank  of  England,  of  which  institution  he  was  a  debtor, 
certain  of  his  personal  effects,  including  his  pew  in  St.  Paul's  Church. 
The  bank  therefore  became  a  pew  owner  in  the  church,  although,  in 
compliance  with  the  law,  the  title  to  the  pew  was  nominally  vested  in 
the  firm  of  American  bankers  who  acted  as  its  agents.  About  this 
time,  arrangements  were  being  made  for  the  erection  of  the  new  stone 
church,  and  the  ownership  of  a  pew  by  the  Bank  of  England  gave  rise 
to  certain  legal  complications  and  occasioned  much  correspondence 
between  the  vestry  and  the  bank  officials.  The  matter  was  finally 
satisfactorily  adjusted  by  the  purchase  of  the  pew  from  the  bank  by 
one  of  the  members  of  the  parish.  This  occurrence  is  also  interesting 
as  showing  how  far-reaching  even  at  that  early  day,  were  the  business 
methods  of  this  famous  English  institution. 

The  pew  in  St.  Paul's  Church  was  not  the  only  piece  of  Buffalo 
property  owned  by  that  corporation  ;  the  title  to  the  land  upon  which 
the  Buffalo  Club  house  now  stands,  on  the  corner  of  Delaware  Avenue 
and  Trinity  Place,  was  also  held  at  one  time  by  the  Bank  of  England. 

Hccount  of  tbe  formation  of  a  ffvee  Cburcb  for 
Xafee  /ll>en  ano  ©tbers.    [1840.] 

(Extracts  from  the  original  manuscript  book  of  minutes,  treasurer's 
account,  etc.) 

.  .  .  .  "  The  rapid  increase  of  the  laboring  population  of  our  city, 
particularly  in  the  lower  wards,  and  the  total  inadequacy  of  church 
accommodation  adapted  to  the  wants  of  that  class  of  our  citizens,  had 
long  made  it  the  earnest  desire  of  the  clergy  and  laity  of  the  parishes 
of  St.  Paul's,  Trinity  and  St.  John's  to  establish  a  free  place  of  worship 
in  some  locality  suitable  for  that  purpose,  and  for  the  resort  of  seamen 
and  boatmen  visiting  our  port. 

"In  May,  1849,  the  Rev.  Seth  Davis,  a  presbyter  of  the  church, 
with  the  sanction  of  the  rectors  of    the  three   parishes,  by  personal 


Historical  Notes,   iSiy-igoj.  387 

application  to  the  laity,  obtained  for  this  purpose  a  subscription 
amounting  to  $411,  and  rented  and  fitted  up  in  a  neat  and  appropriate 
manner,  the  second  floor  room  of  a  new  building  ....  on  the  east 
side  of  Main  Street,  north  of  and  adjoining  the  Erie  Canal  (at  that 
time  No.  93  Main  Street).  The  cost  of  the  outfit,  including  chancel 
desks,  altar,  font,  seats,  etc.,  ....  amounted  to  $212.72. 

"The  first  service  was  held  in  the  room  Sunday,  June  24,  1S49,  Mr. 
Davis  officiating  ;  but  after  holding  service  three  Sundays  and  opening 
a  Sunday  School,  he  was  compelled  by  sickness  [an  attack  of  the  pre- 
vailing scourge,  cholera]  to  relinquish  the  charge,  and  eventually  left 
the  city.  The  regular  services  were,  however,  maintained  (with  the 
exception  of  one  Sunday)  by  lay  reading,  first  by  Mr.  Stephen  Walker 
and  afterwards  by  Mr.  George  Morgan  Hills,  until  about  November 
1st,  when  the  Rev.  Joshua  Smith,  deacon,  was  engaged  until  April  1, 

1850 Under  his  care  there  has  been  a  steady  increase  in  the 

attendance  ....  and  the  Sunday  School  now  numbers  fifty  scholars. 
The  teachers,  to  whose  labors  much  of  the  success  of  the  Sunday 
School  must  be  attributed,  are  Mr.  J.  L.  Reynolds,  Miss  Clark,  Miss 
Baird  and  Mr.  O.  H.  P.  Champlin,  the  latter  of  whom  is  at  present 
superintendent.  During  the  winter  the  evening  services  were  con- 
ducted ....  chiefly  by  Dr.  Shelton  of  St.  Paul's  and  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Ingersoll  of  Trinity,  there  being  a  regular  evening  service  at  St.  John's, 
preventing  the  rector,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Schuyler,  from  aiding  in  those  at 
the  free  church.  The  want  of  a  musical  instrument  being  much  felt, 
a  melodeon  was  presented  by  the  ladies  of  the  three  parishes  ;  .  .  .  . 
the  cost  was  $40. 

"  After  Mr.  Davis  resigned  his  charge  the  care  of  it  devolved  more 
particularly  upon  Messrs.  Samuel  D.  Flagg  and  George  C.  Webster  of 
St.  Paul's  parish  ;  James  L.  Reynolds  and  G.  L.  Newman  of  Trinity, 

and   H.  Rainey  of  St.  John's A   more   perfect   organization 

being  deemed  necessary,  the  vestries  appointed  ....  a  committee  for 
that  purpose.  From  St.  Paul's,  Charles  W.  Evans,  DeWitt  C.  Weed, 
and  George  C.  Webster  ;  from  Trinity,  John  M.  Hutchinson  and  G. 


388  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

L.  Newman  ;  from  St.  John's,  Andrew  Houliston,  J.  H.  H.  Wheeler  and 

T.  H.  Mendsen Charles  W.  Evans  was  appointed  treasurer  and 

secretary,  and  John  M.  Hutchinson  chairman  of  the  committee 

"  The  subscriptions  being  inadequate  to  the  necessary  expenditures 
of  the  free  church,  it  was  resolved,  at  a  meeting  held  on  February  3, 
1 85 1,  'that  the  services  of  the  Free  Episcopal  Church  be  discontinued 
from  and  after  the  second  Sunday  in  February  '  (being  the  9th  of 
February) 

"  At  the  above-mentioned  date  it  was  found  necessary  to  give  over 
the  effort  for  the  present,  though  with  the  hope  that  it  might  be  suc- 
cessfully resumed  at  some  future  time."  .... 

IRemoval  of  tbe  jframe  Cburcb,  1850. 

In  a  long-forgotten  Buffalo  Magazine,  The  Western  Literary 
Messenger  for  May  and  June,  1850,  was  printed  a  curious  article,  in  two 
instalments,  entitled  "  Extracts  from  my  Diary,  by  St.  Paul's."  It  is 
evidently  from  the  pen  of  the  editor,  Jesse  Clement,  and  purports  to 
give  the  observations  and  reflections  of  the  old  frame  church  during  its 
journey,  from  April  1st  to  April  29,  1850,  from  St.  Paul's  lot,  up 
Main  Street  to  Genesee  Street,  and  thence  out  the  latter  street  to  the 
lot  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Hickory  Street,  which  it  was  to  occupy, 
as  St.  Peter's  German  Evangelical  Church,  until  demolished  in  1877. 

The  article  is  written  in  a  playfully  pathetic  tone  and  gives  a 
glimpse  of  the  Main  Street  at  that  time.  The  old  church  is  left 
lamenting  the  hardship  of  having  to  revise  its  theology  and  conquer 
the  language  of  Luther  in  its  old  age. 

"  Extracts  from  my  Diary  "  can  be  seen  at  the  Buffalo  Public 
Library,  where  an  incomplete  file  of  the  magazine  is  preserved. 

It  is  difficult  to  realize  that  back  in  the  '40's  and  '50's  Buffalo 
was  the  home  for  many  years  of  a  successful  literary  venture,  to  which 
even  from  its  inception  in  1842  the  leading  writers  of  the  country 
contributed. 


GERMAN'     EVANGELICAL     ST.    PETERS     CHURCH. 

Northeast  corner  of  Genesee  and  Hickory  streets,  formerly  old  St.  Paul's  frame  edifice.     Sold  and  removed 

here  April.  1S50,  and  demolished  in  May.  1877.     The  tablet  over  the  door  and  the  two-window 

extension  in  the  rear  were  added  by  St.  Peter's  Congregation. 


Reproduced  by  permission  from  a  photo- 
graph owned  by  the  Buffalo  Historical 
Society.     (See  pages,  59,  38b.) 


Historical  Notes,   1817-1903.  389 

Frank  H.  Severance  in  his  interesting  paper,  "  Random  Notes  on  the 
Authors  of  Buffalo,"  read  before  the  Buffalo  Historical  Society  in  1889, 
and  printed  in  Volume  IV.  of  the  Society's  "  Publications,"  referring  to 
the  Western  Literary  Messenger,  says  :  "  It  was  the  most  creditable 
literary  periodical,  all  things  considered,  that  Western  New  York  has 
ever  supported." 

Another  article,  from  the  Buffalo  Commercial  Advertiser  of  March  9, 
1S50,  says  :  "  It  is  not  an  uninteresting  coincidence  that  it  [St.  Paul's] 
should  follow  its  predecessor,  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  which  it 

is  to  displace,  a  small  wooden  edifice After  the  erection  of 

their  present  house,  the  Presbyterians  sold  it  [the  small  wooden  build- 
ing] to  the  Niagara  Street  Methodist  Church It  was  after- 
wards removed  to  Genesee  Street,  and  ....  occupied  by  a  German 
Protestant  Society,  the  same  which  has  now  purchased  St.  Paul's." 


In  an  account  of  the  Thirteenth  Annual  Festival  of  the  Old  Set- 
tlers of  Buffalo,  published  in  the  Buffalo  Commercial  Advertiser  of 
January  14,  1876,  among  other  reminiscences  appears  the  following 
reference  to  Dr.  Shelton  and  St.  Paul's  before  the  removal  of  the  old 
frame  edifice  :  "The  Doctor  had  a  garden  in  one  corner  of  the  church 
lot,  on  the  Pearl  Street  side,  we  believe,  wherein  he  cultivated  a  large 
quantity  of  choice  flowers." 

Ubc  IRumberino  of  tbe  pearl  Street  IRecton?. 

In  the  city  directories  from  1847  to  1856,  Dr.  Shelton's  rectory  is 
spoken  of  as  "  in  rear  of"  or  "opposite"  St.  Paul's  Church  on  Pearl 
Street.  In  the  directory  for  1856,  for  the  first  time,  it  appears  as  No. 
64  Pearl  Street.  About  ten  years  later  the  numbering  of  the  streets 
of  Buffalo  was  changed  and  systematized,  on  the  basis  of  twenty  feet 
frontage  to  a  number.  The  directories  of  1S66  and  1867  speak  of 
"the  imperfect  numbering  of  our  streets."  In  1868  this  phrase  no 
longer  appears.     In  the  city  directory  of  1867,  No.  64  appears  for  the 


390  History  of  St.  Paul 's  Church. 

last  time,  and   in  that  of  1S68  the  number  12S  Pearl  Street  takes  its 
place  and  is  the  same  number  in  use  to-day. 

Zhe  Moooen  flDooel  of  St.  Paul's,  IS30. 

As  is  detailed  in  this  History,  the  stone  edifice  of  St.  Paul's,  begun 
in  1849,  was  not  fully  completed  until  1873,  when  tne  stone  crosses  and 
last  finials  were  put  in  place.  During  much  of  this  period  there  stood, 
for  many  years,  on  a  raised  platform  in  the  west  vestibule,  an  accurately 
designed  model  of  the  church  in  wood.  Picturing  the  beauty  of  the 
completed  structure,  it  stood  there,  a  silent  appeal  for  subscriptions. 

After  the  completion  of  the  church  edifice,  the  model  was  kept  for 
a  time  in  the  second  story  of  the  former  Church  Street  porch.  (The 
baptistery  in  the  present  edifice  occupies  the  site  of  this  old  porch.) 
Later,  the  model  disappeared,  and  no  one  seems  to  have  thought  it 
worthy  of  even  the  most  casual  care.  About  the  year  1895,  Frank 
Gedies,  then  a  member  of  the  vested  choir  and  also  in  charge  of  chim- 
ing the  bells,  found  the  model,  broken  and  dismantled,  hidden  away 
with  other  odds  and  ends  under  the  belfry  stairs  in  the  main  tower. 
Here  it  had  escaped  the  ravages  of  the  fire  of  18SS,  but  no  one  of 
those  he  asked  could  give  him  any  information  as  to  its  history. 
He,  fortunately,  realized  the  value  of  this  interesting  relic,  and,  as  a 
labor  of  love,  devoted  many  of  his  spare  hours  to  repairing  and 
restoring  it.  Mr.  Gedies  finished  the  work  in  189S,  and  the  model  is 
now  locked  up  in  the  room  over  the  northwest  porch.  This  room 
opens  onto  the  west  gallery,  and  was  formerly  used  as  a  storeroom  for 
the  music  of  the  chorus  choir. 

The  greatest  architects  and  designers  use  models  of  this  kind 
because  they  give  a  better  conception  of  what  the  finished  structure 
will  be  than  any  drawing.  The  old  model  of  St.  Paul's,  always  inter- 
esting, shows  the  church  as  originally  designed  by  Richard  Upjohn, 
and  has  now  acquired  a  new  value  by  reason  of  the  extensive  changes 
in  the  design  as  rebuilt  after  the  fire. 


THE    WOODEN    MODEL    OF    ST.   PAUL'S,   1850.    (See  pages  390  to  392.) 
Photographs  by  G.  H.  B.,  1902. 


Historical  Notes,   181J-1903.  391 

The  model  is  made  to  a  scale  of  one-quarter  inch  to  the  foot.  Its 
greatest  length,  including  the  chancel,  nave  and  tower,  is  three  feet 
seven  and  three-quarter  inches,  equivalent  to  175  feet,  which  was  the 
length  of  the  church  previous  to  the  extension  of  the  chancel  in  the 
recent  restoration,  after  the  fire  of  1S88. 

The  height  of  the  tower  and  spire,  from  the  base  to  the  top  of  the 
finial  upon  which  the  little  gilded  cross  rests,  as  shown  by  the  model,  is 
four  feet  eight  and  one  quarter  inches,  equivalent  to  225  feet,  which  is 
the  height  as  originally  planned  by  Mr.  Upjohn,  and  which  was 
increased  later. 

As  before  stated,  the  model  was  made  from  Mr.  Upjohn's  original 
plans,  and  shows  the  crockets  and  other  details  on  the  large  and  small 
spires  which  were  omitted  when  the  work  was  finally  constructed. 
(Page  103,  note.) 

The  model  shows  the  exterior  of  the  church,  with  the  stone  steps  and 
porches,  and  is  complete  in  every  detail,  even  to  the  reproduction  in  the 
tiny  crosses  of  the  varying  design  of  the  stone  crosses  upon  the  finished 
edifice.  The  whole  is  painted  brown  and  sanded,  to  represent  the  stone 
of  which  the  church  is  built.  The  four  small  windows  in  the  Erie  Street 
porch  were  not  in  the  original  plans,  and  are  not  shown  in  the  model. 
Jacob  A.  Barker,  of  the  building  committee,  wrote  to  Mr.  Upjohn,  July 
17,  1854,  just  before  this  porch  was  built,  calling  his  attention  to  the 
omission,  which  was  promptly  corrected. 

Mr.  Barker,  in  a  letter  dated  August  14,  1854,  to  Richard  Upjohn, 
the  architect,  refers  to  this  miniature  representation  of  the  church  as 
"  the  model  Mr.  Riker  had  made  "  from  the  original  plans.  The  letter 
was  written  at  the  time  of  the  building  of  the  porches.  George  Riker 
was  the  master  carpenter,  or  superintendent,  who  was  engaged,  on  Mr. 
Upjohn's  high  recommendation,  in  1S50. 

Another  reference  to  the  model  is  in  the  minutes  of  the  building  com- 
mittee, December  27, 1866, which  showsthat  itwas  used  in  the  work:  "The 
model  of  the  church  was  shown  to  Mr.  Green  [one  of  the  contractors], 
with  a  view  of  explaining  to  him  the  portions  to  be  finished."  .... 


392  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  this  interesting  reminder  of  the  past  will  be 
properly  preserved  as  a  "  historical  document,"  and  that  it  may  be 
placed  where  it  can  be  readily  seen  and  examined.     (See  illustration.) 

IRotes  on  tbe  5unfca\>  Scbool. 

The  Buffalo  Daily  Courier  of  Saturday,  April  14,  i860,  says,  referring 
to  the  Sunday  School  statistics  of  Buffalo,  then  recently  compiled  by 
the  Rev.  P.  G.  Cook  :  "  It  appears  that  there  are  fifty-seven  schools, 
with  an  average  attendance  for  the  month  of  March  (i860)  of  886 
teachers  and  5,686  scholars.  The  largest  school  for  the  month  of 
March  was  St.  Paul's  Episcopal  (262  scholars)  closely  followed  by  the 
Cedar  Street  Baptist  (253  scholars)."  .... 

Numerous  references  to  the  Sunday  School  of  St.  Paul's,  which 
dates  from  the  year  1818,  will  be  found  in  the  pages  of  this  History. 
It  has  been  impossible  to  give  a  separate  and  detailed  account  of  this 
most  important  and  valuable  adjunct  of  the  work  of  the  Church,  on 
account  of  lack  of  accessible  data  for  the  purpose. 

The  children  of  an  earlier  day  recall  with  pleasure  the  old-time 
Christmas  festivals  in  the  Sunday  School,  and  the  tree  with  its  glow- 
ing lights,  bearing  a  gift  for  each  child. 

On  the  afternoon  of  each  Whitsunday  the  scholars  assembled  in 
the  church,  and  it  was  the  custom  of  Dr.  Shelton,  at  that  time,  to 
deliver  prizes  to  those  pupils  who  were  deemed  most  worthy  of  them. 
The  prizes  were  always  books,  bearing  Dr.  Shelton's  autograph  on  the 
fly  leaf,  and  many  of  them  are  still  cherished  in  loving  memory  of  the 
giver  and  of  the  old  days. 

St.  Paul's  <BufU>, 

St.  Paul's  Guild  of  the  Parish  of  St.  Paul's,  Buffalo. 

a  sketch,  contributed  by  george  alered  stringer. 

St.  Paul's  Guild  was  organized  on  the  twenty- second  day  of  February,   1874,  by 
the  members  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  called  together  by  the  rector  for  that  purpose,  with 


Historical  Notes,   iSiy-igoj.  393 

the  object  — as  the  constitution  broadly  put  it — "  for  associating  the  members  of  the 
church  more  closely  in  good  works  and  to  engage  and  labor  more  thoroughly  to  the 
glory  of  God  and  the  advancement  of  His  Church." 

The  Rev.  C.  S.  Hale,  assistant  minister  of  St.  Paul's,  was  the  first  warden,  but 
shortly  after,  having  resigned  from  the  parish,  the  new  assistant,  Rev.  S.  H.  Gurteen, 
was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy,  Dr.  Davidson  being  vice-warden,  with  a  registrar, 
treasurer  and  a  full  board  of  councilors. 

The  first  missionary  work  of  the  Guild  was  the  establishment  of  what  was  long 
familiarly  known  as  the  "  German  Mission"  on  Spruce  Street.  A  lot  was  purchased 
on  the  twenty-fourth  of  May,  1875,  and  a  chapel  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $1,700.  This 
mission  was  several  years  ago  incorporated,  and  became  known  as  St.  Andrew's  Parish, 
which  now  has  a  new  and  beautiful  church  edifice  on  Goodell  Street,  completed  in 
November,  1892,  and  opened  for  service  the  first  Sunday  in  Advent  ;  the  lot  and  old 
building  on  Spruce  Street  having  been  sold. 

When  the  Guild  was  first  organized  it  only  had  a  membership  of  forty-five,  but  at 
the  close  of  the  year  it  numbered  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  associates,  a  larger 
number  than  that  of  all  the  churchmen  in  the  city  when  our  parish  —  St.  Paul's  — 
was  organized.  Early  in  1874  the  Ladies'  Aid  and  Relief  Society  began  work  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Guild.  An  industrial  school  was  established,  and  later  on  every  depart- 
ment of  church  work  was  thoroughly  organized  and  carried  on  successfully,  to  wit  : 
the  parish  Sunday  School,  the  Missionary  Society,  the  floral  decoration  of  the  altar 
and  chancel  on  Sundays  and  festival  days,  ushering  and  order,  the  Maternity  Society, 
ecclesiastical  work,  etc. 

The  Guild  did  an  efficient  and  noble  work  up  to  May,  1S88,  when  our  church  was 
partially  destroyed  by  fire,  just  previous  to  which  our  rector,  Rev.  John  W.  Brown, 
D.  D.,  had  resigned  the  rectorship  to  assume  a  larger  responsibility  at  St.  Thomas's 
Church,  New  York,  to  which  he  had  been  called  ;  since  which  period  the  Guild,  as 
an  organization,  practically  ceased  to  exist. 

The  record  of  the  Guild  of  St.  Paul's  Church  for  fourteen  consecutive  years  was 
one  of  which  all  its  members  had  reason  to  be  justly  proud,  and  to  which  this  brief 
sketch  cannot  do  full  justice.  Much  laborious  work  was  done,  old-time  ease  given 
up,  and  burdens  shouldered  ;  this  not  by  men  and  women  of  leisure,  but  those  who 
had  their  every-day  tasks  and  every-day  duties  to  perform. 

One  of  the  most  self-denying  of  these,  and  one  who  died  with  his  harness  on, 
was  our  colaborer,  the  late  Augustus  Reginald  Davidson,  M.  D.  "  Faithful  unto 
death." 

As  St.  Paul's  is  the  mother  of  the  Episcopal  churches  in  this  city,  so  in  a  certain  sense 
is  the  Guild  the  mother  of  a  larger  and  more  vigorous  missionary  spirit.  The  Lay- 
men's Missionary  League,  formed  by  members  of  the  several  city  parishes  in  the  fall 


394  History  of  St.  Paul's  C/iu?-ch. 

of  1 89 1,  is  already  a  great  power  for  good  with  every  prospect  before  it  of  a  long, 
useful  and  prosperous  career.  Its  president,  superintendent  and  treasurer  are  all 
former  Guild  members,  as  well  as  many  of  its  present  lay  readers.  "  What  wilt  thou 
have  me  to  do,"  is  the  Pauline  cry  constantly  evoked  from  each  member  as  the  sense 
of  Christ  is  realized,  and  the  demands  of  Christ-work  made  known  — and  consecrated 
to  this  we  shall  find  each  year  a  glorious  harvest  of  results  to  the  glory  of  God  and 
the  good  of  the  Catholic  Church. 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  March  15,  1893. 


jfrom  flMnutes  of  tbe  SSutlotng  Committee,  after 
five  of  1888. 

September  4,  1888. — Amended  plans  of  Robert  W.  Gibson,  archi- 
tect, were  accepted. 

November  8,  18S8. — The  building  of  the  Church  Street  porch 
decided  upon,  at  a  cost  of  $3,006.  The  total  expense  of  rebuilding 
was  estimated  at  $113,496. 

January  7,  18S9. — The  new  organ  ordered  from  Hook  cc  Hastings 
of  Boston,  to  cost  $4,800.  It  was  decided  to  have  stone  tracery  in 
chancel  east  window,  to  cost  about  $1,200.  Mr.  Gibson's  designs  for 
the  altar  rail  accepted. 

January  29,  1889. — The  estimates  from  Mr.  Collingwood  for  stone 
work  were  as  follows  : 

For  stone  pulpit, $1,500 

For  marble  font 400 

For  stone  tracery  in  chancel  east  window, 1,250 

For  stone  rail  for  chancel 725 

For  marble  steps  to  chancel, 250 


M25 


Mr.  Collingwood  offered  to  donate  the  font,  and  the  estimates  were 
accepted  at  the  sum  of  $3,900,  with  the  understanding  that  the  font  be 


Historical  Notes,   i8iy-igoj.  395 

donated,  which  would  make  the  net  sum  $3,500.     The  designs  by  Mr. 
Gibson  accepted.     (Brown  stone  was  used  for  the  font.) 

March,  1889. — The  Messrs.  Lamb  of  New  York  to  furnish  all  glass 
for  the  church  with  the  exception  of  memorial  windows. 

March  27,  18S9. —  It  was  reported  that  Mrs.  Agnes  Ethel  Tracy 
had  offered  to  give  to  the  restored  St.  Paul's  Church  the  altar  and 
reredos  as  a  memorial  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton,  the  whole  not  to 
exceed  $7,000.  The  following  resolution  was  offered,  and  a  copy  sent 
to  Mrs.  Tracy  : 

"Resolved,  That  the  building  committee  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  in  behalf  of  the 
vestry  and  congregation,  gratefully  accept  the  very  munificent  offer  made  by  Mrs. 
Agnes  Ethel  Tracy,  and  they  also  desire  to  express  their  gratification  that  the  noble 
gift  is  to  be  devoted  to  the  perpetuation  of  the  blessed  memory  of  the  Rev.  Wm. 
Shelton,  D.  D.,  formerly  rector  of  the  parish,  whose  name  is  so  dear  to  the  members 
of  St.  Paul's. 

April  4,  18S9. —  It  was  decided  to  accept  Mr.  Gibson's  designs  for 
chancel  floor,  chancel  furniture,  including  stalls,  bishop's  chair,  and 
credence  table,  and  also  the  reredos. 

On  motion  of  Dr.  Hopkins  it  was  resolved  that  all  doors  be  made 
to  swing  outwards. 

June  1,  1889. —  Burke  &  Co.  contracted  with  to  lay  the  mosaic 
flooring  of  chancel,  $1,600  ;  Metz  &  Meyer  to  make  and  set  up  chan- 
cel furniture,  $2,677  ;  Mr.  Collingwood,  onyx  for  altar,  $4,575  ;  Burke 
&  Co.,  mosaic  figures  in  reredos,  $1,950. 

July  1,  1889. —  J.  Edward  N.  Stendt,  to  do  the  mural  decorating, 
at  a  cost  not  to  exceed  $4,000. 

October  16,  1889. — The  credence  table,  after  a  design  by  Mr.  Gib- 
son, contracted  for,  with  Mr.  Collingwood,  at  $250. 

The  building  committee  of  1888  was  as  follows  :  Col.  A.  J.  Barn- 
ard, Chairman  ;  Wm.  H.  Walker,  A.  Porter  Thompson,  Dr.  H.  R. 
Hopkins,  James  R.  Smith,  Robert  P.  Wilson,  Treasurer  ;  George  A. 
Stringer,  Secretary. 


396  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

%\st  of  tbe  Clerov?  In  St.  Paul's  Gburcb. 
IS17  to  1903. 

February  10,  181 7.     Rev.  Samuel  Johnston,   Missionary. 
1817  to  April  7,  1820.     Rev.  William  A.  Clark,  Missionary  and  first  Rector. 
May,  1820,  to  1824.     Rev.  Deodatus  Babcock,  second  Rector. 
March  30,  1825,  to  December  31,  1828.     Rev.  Addison  Searle,  third  Rector. 
January  to  June,  1S29.     Rev.   Reverard  Kearney,  fourth  Rector. 
September  11,  1829,  to  January  n,  1SS1.     Rev.  William  Shelton,  D.  D.,  fifth  Rector  ; 
and  Honorary  Rector  from  January  II,  1881,  until  his  death,  October  11,  1883. 
1861.     Rev.  Mr.  Lynn,  Assistant. 
September  1,   1863,  to  October,  1867.      Rev.  Thomas  Clapp  Pitkin, 

D.  D.,  Assistant. 
April,  1869,  to  April  1,  1872.     Rev.  Charles  L.  Hutchins,  Assistant. 
April,  1872,  to  March,  1875.     Rev.  Charles  S.   Hale,  Assistant. 
November,  1875.     Rev.   S.   Humphreys  Gurteen,  Assistant. 
March   6,  1S77,  to  March  30,    1878.     Rev.  S.  Humphreys  Gurteen, 
Assistant  Rector.     March    30,    187S,  to   April   3,   1S80,  Associate 
Rector. 
1880  to  1882.     Rev.  Edward  Ingersoll,  D.  D.,  Assistant;  Rev.  C. 
F.  A.  Bielby  and  Rev.  William  Marvin  Jones,  Assistants. 
May  7,  1SS2,  to  June  1,  1888.     Rev.  John  W.  Brown,  D.  D.,  sixth  Rector  ;  Rev. 

John  Huske  and  Rev.  C.  H.  Brent,  Assistants. 
June  1,  1888,  to  May  11,  1889.     Rev.  John  Huske,  Minister-in-charge. 
May  11  to  October  15,  1889.     Rev.  G.  Mott  Williams,  Minister-in-charge. 
October  15,   1889,  to   March   1,   1892.      Rev.   Henry  A.  Adams,  seventh  Rector; 

Rev.  Arthur  J.  Fidler,  Assistant. 
March  1,  1892,  to  April  30,  1892.  Rev.  Arthur  J.  Fidler,  Minister-in- charge. 
July  5,  1892.  Rev.  J.  A.  Regester,  S.  T.  D.,  eighth  Rector;  Rev.  N.  S.  Stevens, 
Assistant,  November,  1892,  to  August,  1895  ;  Rev.  John  S.  LlTTELL,  Curate, 
November,  1895,  to  November  15,  1899;  Rev.  Coleman  E.  Byram,  l'h.  D., 
Curate,  from  November  15,  1899,  to  October  1,  1902  ;  Rev.  Mark  H.  Milne. 
Curate,  from  October  1,  1902. 


List  of  the   Vestry,  1817-1903.  397 

Xist  of  IKHaroeng  ano  Destrvmen  of  St.  Raul's 
Cburcb,  Buffalo,  from  1817  to  1903. 

Names  arranged  in  the  order  in  which  they  appear  in  the  records. 
February  10,  1817,  to  Easter,  181 7. 

WARDENS. 

Erastus  Granger,  Isaac  Q.  Leake. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Samuel  Tupper,  John  G.  Camp,  Jonas  Harrison, 

Sheldon  Thompson,  Henry  M.  Campbell,  Dr.  Josiah  Trowbridge. 

Elias  Ransom,  John  S.  Larned, 

Easter,  181 7,  to  Easter,  1818. 

WARDENS. 

Erastus  Granger,  Isaac  Q.  Leake. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Samuel  Tupper,  Henry  M.  Campbell,  Jonas  Harrison, 

Elias  Ransom,  John  S.  Larned,  John  G.  Camp. 

Sheldon  Thompson,  Dr.  Josiah  Trowbridge, 

Easter,  1818,  to  Easter,  181 9. 

WARDENS. 

Isaac  Q.  Leake,  Henry  M.  Campbell. 

VESTRYMEN. 

John  S.  Larned,  John  G.  Camp,  William  J.  Caldwell, 

Sheldon  Thompson,  Jonas  Harrison,  Staley  N.  Clarke. 

Elias  Ransom,  Dr.  Josiah  Trowbridge, 

Easter,  1819,  to  Easter,  1820. 

WARDENS. 

Dr.  Cyrenius  Chapin,  Henry  M.  Campbell. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Dr.  Josiah  Trowbridge,         Oliver  Forward,  William  J.  Caldwell, 

Elias  Ransom,  Jonas  Harrison,  Smith  H.  Salisbury. 

John  G.  Camp,  Sheldon  Thompson, 

Frederick  B.  Merrill,  Clerk. 


39§  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

Easter,  1820,  to  Easter,  1821. 

WARDENS. 

Dr.  Cyrenius  Chapin,  Henry  M.  Campbell. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Elias  Ransom,  Smith  H.  Salisbury,  George  Weed, 

Oliver  Forward,  John  G.  Camp,  Henry  Kip. 

Sheldon  Thompson,  Dr.  Josiah  Trowbridge, 

Roswell  Chapin,  Clerk. 

Easter,  1S21,  to  Easter,  1822. 

WARDENS. 

Henry  M,  Campbell,  Henry  Kip. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Smith  H.  Salisbury,              Sheldon  Thompson,  Absalom  Bull, 

Oliver  Forward,                      George  Weed,  Horace  Cunningham. 
Elias  Ransom,                        Aaron  James, 

Roswell  Chapin,  Clerk.  Oliver  Forward,  Treasurer. 

Easter,  1822,  to  Easter,  1823. 

WARDENS. 

Henry  M.  Campbell,  Henry  Kip. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Elias  Ransom,  Smith  H.  Salisbury,  George  Weed, 

Oliver  Forward,  Sheldon  Thompson,  Henry  Hamilton. 

Joseph  D.  Hoyt,  Horace  Cunningham, 

Roswell  Chapin,  Clerk.  Oliver  Forward,   Treasurer. 

Easter,  1823,  to  Easter,  1824. 

WARDENS. 

Henry  M.  Campbell,  George  B.  Webster. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Joseph  D.  Hoyt,  Thomas  B.  Clarke,  Jacob  A.  Barker, 

Elias  Ransom,  Sheldon  Ball,  John  G.  Camp. 

Smith  H.  Salisbury,  Lester  Brace, 

Roswell  Chapin,  Clerk.  George  B.  Webster,   Treasurer. 


List  of  the   Vestry,  iSij-igoj.  399 

Easter,  1824,  to  Easter,  1825. 

WARDENS. 

Henry  M.  Campbell,  George  B.  Webster. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Elias  Ransom,  Smith  H.  Salisbury,  Dr.  Josiah  Trowbridge, 

John  G.  Camp,  Sheldon  Ball,  Manly  Colton. 

Joseph  D.  Hoyt,  Jacob  A.  Barker, 

Roswell  Chapin,  Clerk. 

Easter,  1825,  to  Easter,  1826. 

WARDENS. 

Henry  M.  Campbell,  George  B.  Webster. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Elias  Ransom,  Joseph  D.  Hoyt,  Sheldon  Ball, 

Dr.  Josiah  Trowbridge,        Guy  H.  Goodrich,  John  G.  Camp. 

Manly  Colton,  Jacob  A.  Barker, 

Roswell  Chapin,  Clerk.  George  B.  Webster,   Treasurer. 

Loring  Peirce  appointed  sexton. 

Easter,  1826,  to  Easter,  1827. 

WARDENS. 

Henry  M.  Campbell,  George  B.  Webster. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Jacob  A.  Barker,  J.  J.  Ulman,  Anthony  Beers, 

William  Williams,  Benjamin  Rathbun,  Sylvester  Matthews. 

Russell  H.  Heywood,  Henry  Hamilton, 

June  13,  1826,  Henry  M.  Campbell  having  removed  to  Detroit,  Dr.  Josiah  Trow- 
bridge was  elected  warden  in  his  place. 

O.  S.  Lyon,  Clerk.  George  B.  Webster,   Treasurer. 

Easter,  1827,  to  Easter,  1828. 

WARDENS. 

George  B.  Webster,  Dr.  Josiah  Trowbridge. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Dr.  Henry  R.  Stagg,  William  Williams,  Anthony  Beers, 

John  G.  Camp,  Russell  H.  Heywood,  Sylvester  Matthews. 

Jacob  A.  Barker,  Benjamin  Rathbun, 

Dyre  Tillinghast,  Clerk.  George  B.  Webster,  Treasurer. 


4<x>  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

Easter,  1S28,  to  Easter,  1829 

WARDENS. 

George  B.  Webster,  Dr.  Josiah  Trowbridge. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Jacob  A.  Barker,  John  W.  Beals,  John  G.  Camp, 

Russell  H.  Ileywood,  John  Lay,  Jr.,  William  Williams. 

Guy  H.  Goodrich,  Cyrus  Athearn, 

Dyre  Tillinghast,  Clerk.  CeorgeB.  Webster,   Treasurer. 

Easter,  1829,  to  Easter,  1830. 

WARDENS. 

George  B.  Webster,  Dr.  Josiah  Trowbridge. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Russell  II.  Ileywood,  Jerry  Radcliff,  Augustine  Eaton, 

William  Williams,  Manly  Colton,  Jacob  A.  Barker. 

John  W.  Beals,  Henry  Hamilton, 

Dyre  Tillinghast,  Ch-rk.  George  B.  Webster,   Treasurer 

Easter,  1830,  to  Easter,  1831. 

WARDENS. 

George  B.  Webster,  Russell  11.  Ileywood. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Sheldon  Thompson,  Jerry  Radcliff,  Zenas  W.  Barker, 

Pierre  A.  Barker,  John  R.  Carpenter,  Dyre  Tillinghast. 

Henry  Hamilton,  Cyrus  Athearn, 

Martin  Chittenden,  Clerk.  George  B.  Webster,   Treasure 

Easter,  1831,  to  Easter,  1832. 

WARDENS. 

George  B.  Webster,  Russell  II.  Ileywood. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Henry  Hamilton,  Pierre  A.  Barker,  Jeremiah  Staats, 

Zenas  W.  Barker,  Cyrus  Athearn,  Sheldon  Thompson. 

Jerry  Radcliff,  Benjamin  Rathbun, 

Martin  Chittenden,  Clerk.  George  B.  Webster,  Treasurer. 


List  of  the  Vestry,  1817—1903.  401 

Easter,  1832,  to  Easter,  1833. 

WARDENS. 

George  B.  Webster,  Dr.  Josiah  Trowbridge. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Henry  Hamilton,  Guy  H.  Goodrich,  Zenas  W.  Barker, 

Sheldon  Thompson,  Sylvester  Matthews,  John  Lay,  Jr. 

Jacob  A.  Barker,  Benjamin  Rathbun, 

Martin  Chittenden,  Clerk.  George  B.  Webster,   Treasurer. 

September  25,  1832,  Henry  Morris  appointed  clerk  in  place  of  Martin  Chittenden, 
deceased. 

Easter,  1833,  to  Easter,  1S34. 

WARDENS. 

George  B.  Webster,  Dr.  Josiah  Trowbridge. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Sheldon  Thompson,  Jacob  A.  Barker,  George  E.  Hayes, 

Guy  H.  Goodrich,  William  B.  Rochester,  Henry  Hamilton. 

Pierre  A.  Barker,  Lester  Brace, 

Henry  Morris,  Clerk.  George  B.  Webster,   Treasurer. 

Stephen  Walker,  Superintendent  of  Sunday  School. 

Easter,  1834,  to  Easter,  1835. 

WARDENS. 

George  B.  Webster,  Dr.  Josiah  Trowbridge. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Sheldon  Thompson,  William  B.  Rochester,  Henry  Hamilton, 

Pierre  A.  Barker,  Lester  Brace,  Sylvester  Matthews. 

Jacob  A.  Barker,  George  E.  Hayes, 

Henry  Morris,  Clerk,  George  B.  Webster,   Treasurer. 

Easter,  1835,10  Easter,  1836. 

WARDENS. 

George  B.  Webster,  Henry  Hamilton. 

VESTRYMEN. 

William  B.  Rochester,  Sylvester  Matthews,  Pierre  A.  Barker, 

Sheldon  Thompson,  George  E.  Hayes,  Jacob  A.  Barker. 

Lester  Brace,  Horatio  Stevens, 

Dr.  Elliott  Burwell,  Clerk.  George  B.  Webster,   Treasurer. 


4-02  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

Easter,  1836,  to  Easter,  1837. 

WARDENS. 

George  B.  Webster,  Henry  Hamilton. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Jacob  A.  Barker,  Dr.  Josiah  Trowbridge,  George  E.  Hayes, 

Pierre  A.  Barker,  Guy  H.  Goodrich,  Richard  Sears. 

Sheldon  Thompson,  Russell  H.  Heywood, 

Elijah  Ford,  Clerk.  George  B.  Webster,   Treasurer. 

Easter,  1837,  to  Easter,  1838. 

WARDENS. 

George  B.  Webster,  Henry  Hamilton. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Sheldon  Thompson,  Russell  H.  Heywood,  Stephen  Walker, 

Dr.  Josiah  Trowbridge,  George  E.  Hayes,  Lester  Brace. 

Jacob  A.  Barker,  William  Williams, 

Elijah  Ford,  Clerk.  George  B.  Webster,  Treasure*. 

Easter,  1838,  to  Easter,  1839. 

WARDENS. 

George  B.  Webster,  Henry  Hamilton. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Russell  H.  Heywood,  George  E.  Hayes,  Jacob  A.  Barker, 

Lester  Brace,  Dr.  Josiah  Trowbridge,  William  Williams. 

Stephen  Walker,  Sheldon  Thompson, 

Elijah  Ford,  Clerk.  George  B.  Webster,   Treasurer. 

Easter,  1839,  to  Easter,  1840. 

WARDENS. 

George  B.  Webster,  Henry  Hamilton. 

VESTRYMEN. 

William  Williams,  Walter  Joy,  Sheldon  Thompson, 

Russell  H.  Heywood,  Stephen  Walker,  Dr.  James  P.  White. 

Elijah  Ford,  Lester  Brace, 

Joseph  G.  Masten,  Clerk.  George  B.  Webster,   Treasurer. 


List  of  the   Vestry,  iSiy-ipoj.  403 

Easter,  1840,  to  Easter,  1841. 

WARDENS. 

George  B.  Webster,  Henry  Hamilton. 

VESTRYMEN. 

William  Williams,  Walter  Joy,  Sheldon  Thompson, 

Russell  H.  Heywood,  Stephen  Walker,  Dr.  James  P.  White. 

Elijah  Ford,  Lester  Brace, 

Joseph  G.  Masten,  Clerk. 


Easter,  1841,  to  Easter,  1842. 

WARDENS. 

George  B.  Webster,  Henry  Hamilton. 

VESTRYMEN. 

William  Williams,  Walter  Joy,  Dr.  James  P.  White, 

Russell  H.  Heywood,  Stephen  Walker,  Joseph  G.  Masten. 

Elijah  Ford,  Lester  Brace, 

Jesse  Walker,  Clerk.  William  Williams,   Treasurer. 

Easter,  1842,  to  Easter,  1843. 

WARDENS. 

George  B.  Webster,  Henry  Hamilton. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Russell  H.  Heywood,  Walter  Joy,  William  Williams, 

Stephen  Walker,  Lester  Brace,  Edward  S.  Warren. 

Joseph  G.  Masten,  Elijah  Ford, 

Jesse  Walker,  Clerk.  William  Williams,   Treasure). 

Easter,  1843,  to  Easter,  1844. 

WARDENS. 

George  B.  Webster,  Henry  Hamilton. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Russell  H.  Heywood,  William  Williams,  Richard  Sears, 

Lester  Brace,  Dr.  Josiah  Trowbridge,  Elijah  Ford. 

Stephen  Walker,  Jacob  A.  Barker, 

Jesse  Walker,  Clerk.  William  Williams,   Treasurer. 


404  History  of  St.  Paul's  CJmrcJi. 

Easter,  1844,  to  Easter,  1845. 

WARDENS. 

George  B.  Webster,  Henry  Hamilton. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Russell  H.  Heywood,  William  Williams,  Richard  Sears, 

Lester  Brace.  Dr.  Josiah  Trowbridge,  Elijah  Ford. 

Stephen  Walker,  Jacob  A.  Barker, 

Jesse  Walker,  Clerk.  William  Williams,   Treasurer. 

Henry  Hawkins,  Sexton. 

Easter,  1845,  to  Easter,  1846. 

WARDENS. 

George  B.  Webster,  Henry  Hamilton. 

VESTRYMEN. 

William  Williams,  Jacob  A.  Barker,                      Alexander  H.  Caryl, 

Lester  Brace,  Elijah  Ford,                              Stephen  Walker. 

Russell  H.  Heywood,  Albert  Hayden, 

Asher  P.  Nichols,  Clerk.                         William  Williams,   Treasurer. 

February,  1846. —  Russell  H.  Heywood,  Albert  Hayden,  Grosvenor  Clark,  Build- 
ing Committee  for  the  erection  of  the  rectory  on  Pearl  Street. 

Easter,  1846,  to  Easter,  1S47. 

WARDENS. 

George  B.  Webster,  Russell  II.  Heywood. 

VESTRYMEN. 

William  Williams,  Elijah  Ford,  Samuel  D.  Flagg, 

Lester  Brace,  Albert  Hayden,  Stephen  Walker. 

Alexander  II.  Caryl,  Grosvenor  Clark, 

Asher  P.  N'ichols,  Clerk.  William  Williams,    Treasurer. 

George  C.   Webster,   DeWitt  C.  Weed,   William   II.  Walker,  the  first  committee 
appointed  to  seat  strangers  in  the  church. 


List  of  the   Vestry,  1S17-1903.  405 

Easter,  1847,  to  Easter,  1848. 

WARDENS. 

George  B.  Webster,  Russell  H.  Heywood. 

VESTRYMEN. 

William  Williams,  Stephen  Walker,  Grosvenor  Clark, 

Lester  Brace,  Samuel  D.  Flagg,  Henry  Hagar. 

Elijah  Ford,  Albert  Hayden, 

Asher  P.  Nichols,  Clerk.  William  Williams,  Treasurer. 

January,  1S48. —  George  B.  Webster,  Russell  H.  Heywood,  William  William*, 
committee  to  correspond  with  Richard  Upjohn,  the  architect,  in  regard  to  furnish- 
ing plans  for  new  church  edifice. 

Easter,  1848,  to  Easter,  1849. 

WARDENS. 
George  B.  Webster,  Russell  H.  Heywood. 

VESTRYMEN. 

William  Williams,                   Stephen  Walker,  John  L.  Kimberly, 

Samuel  D.  Flagg,                   Lester  Brace,  Edward  L.  Stevenson 
Henry  Hagar,                          Elijah  Ford, 

Charles  W.  Evans,  Clerk.  William  Williams,   Treasurer. 

Easter,  1849,  to  Easter,  1850. 

WARDENS. 

George  B.  Webster,  Russell  H.  Heywood. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Lester  Brace,  Stephen  Walker,  Edward  L.  Stevenson, 

William  Williams,  John  L.  Kimberly,  Elijah  Ford. 

Samuel  D.  Flagg,  Henry  Hagar, 

Charles  W.  Evans,  Clerk.  William  Williams,  Treasurer. 

Russell  H.  Heywood,  Edward  L.  Stevenson,  George  B.  Webster,  William  Wil- 
liams, and  Jacob  A.  Barker,  Building  Committee  for  the  erection  of  the  new  church 
edifice. 

August  20,  1849. — Jacob  A.  Barker  appointed  Treasurer,  and  DeWitt  C.  Weed 
one  of  the  Building  Committee  in  place  of  William  Williams,  deceased. 


406  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

Easter,  1850,  to  Easter,  185 1. 

WARDENS. 

George  B.  Webster,  Russell  H.  Hey  wood. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Lester  Brace,  Henry  Hager,  Elijah  Ford, 

John  L.  Kimberly,  Samuel  D.  Flagg,  Edward  S.  Warren. 

Stephen  Walker,  Edward  L.  Stephenson, 

Charles  W.  Evans,  Clerk.  Jacob  A.  Barker,  Treasurer. 

Richard  Barker,  Sexton. 

Russell    H,    Heywood,    Edward    L.  Stevenson,    George   B.  Webster,    Jacob   A. 
Barker,  DeWitt  C.  Weed,  Building  Committee. 


Easter,  185 1,  to  Easter,  1852. 

WARDENS, 

George  B.  Webster,  Russell  H.  Heywood. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Lester  Brace,  Henry  Hager,  Elijah  Ford, 

John  L.  Kimberly,  Samuel  D.  Flagg,  Edward  S.  Warren. 

Stephen  Walker,  Edward  L.  Stevenson, 

Charles  W.  Evans,  Clerk.  Jacob  A.  Barker,  Treasure?. 

Russell   H.   Heywood,    Edward    L.    Stevenson,    George   B.   Webster,    Jacob  A. 
Barker,  DeWitt  C.  Weed,  Building  Committee. 


Easter,  1852,  to  Easter,  1853. 
(First  election  in  the  new  church  edifice.) 

WARDENS. 

George  B.  Webster,  Russell  H.  Heywood. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Lester  Brace,  Samuel  D.  Flagg,  Benjamin  Bradley, 

Elijah  Ford,  Edward  S.  Warren,  George  E.  Hayes. 

John  L.  Kimberly,  Amos  I.  Mathews, 

Charles  W.  Evans,  Clerk.  Jacob  A.  Barker,   Treasurer. 


List  of  the   Vestry,  1817-1903.  407 

Easter,  1853,  to  Easter,  1854. 

WARDENS. 

George  B.  Webster,  Russell  H.  Heywood. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Lester  Brace,  Samuel  D.  Flagg,  Benjamin  Bradley, 

Elijah  Ford,  Edward  S.  Warren,  George  E.  Hayes. 

John  L.  Kimberly,  Amos  I.  Mathews, 

Charles  W.  Evans,  Clerk.  Jacob  A.  Barker,  Treasurer. 

William  Channon,  Sexton. 

Easter,  1854,  to  Easter,   1855. 

WARDENS. 

Russell  H.  Heywood,  Lester  Brace. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Elijah  Ford,  John  S.  Ganson,  Benjamin  Bradley, 

Henry  Hagar,  Israel  T.  Hatch,  Amos  I.  Mathews. 

Albert  H.  Tracy,  George  E.  Hayes, 

Charles  W.  Evans,  Clerk  and  Treasurer  of  the  Parish. 

(Albert  H.  Tracy  having  declined  to  act  as  vestryman,    Charles  W.    Evans  was 
elected  in  his  place,  May  22,  1854.) 

John  L.  Kimberly  and  Jacob   A.   Barker,   Building  Committee   for  building  the 
porches,  stone  steps,  and  main  tower  of  church. 

Easter,  1855,  to  Easter,  1856. 

WARDENS. 

Russell  H.  Heywood,  Lester  Brace. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Elijah  Ford,  John  S.  Ganson,  George  E.  Hayes, 

Charles  W.  Evans,  Samuel  G.  Cornell,  John  T.  Lacy. 

John  Pease,  Henry  K.  Yiele, 

Charles  W.  Evans,  Clerk  and  Treasurer. 


408  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

Easter,  1856.  to  Easter,  1857. 

WARDENS. 

Russell  II.  II ey wood,  Lester  Brace. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Elijah  Ford,  John  S.  Ganson,  George  E.  Hayes, 

Charles  W.  Evans,  Samuel  G.  Cornell,  DeWitt  C.  Weed. 

John  Pease,  Henry  K.  Viele, 

Charles  W.  Evans,  Clerk  and  Treasurer. 
John  L.  Kimberly  and  Jacob  A.  Barker,  Building  Committee,  removing  partition 
between  chapel  and  main  edifice,  etc. 

Easter,  1857,  to  Easter,  1858. 

WARDENS. 

Russell  II.  Ileywood,  Lester  Brace. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Elijah  Ford,  DeWitt  C.  Weed,  Samuel  G.  Cornell, 

John  S.  Ganson,  John  Pease,  George  E.  Hayes. 

Henry  K.  Viele,  Charles  W.  Evans, 

Charles  W.  Evans,  Clerk  and  Treasurer.  Ralph  Williams,  Sexton. 

Easter,  1858,  to  Easter,  1859. 

WARDENS. 

Russell  II.  Ileywood,  Lester  Brace. 

VESTRYMEN. 

John  S.  Ganson,  Hunting  S.  Chamberlain,      Dr.  Thomas  F.  Rochester, 

William  II .  Walker,  John  T.  Lacy,  Walter  Joy. 

Asher  P.  Nichols,  John  D.  Shepard, 

William  Sutton,  Clerk,  DeWitt  C.  Weed,   Treasurer. 

Easter,  1859,  to  Easter,  i860. 

WARDENS. 

Russell  II.  Ileywood,  Lester  Brace. 

VESTRYMEN. 

John  S.  Ganson,  Hunting  S.  Chamberlain,      Dr.  Thomas  F.  Rochester, 

William  II.  Walker,  John  T.  Lacy,  Walter  Joy. 

Asher  P.  Nichols,  John  D.  Shepard 

John  T.  Lacy,  Clerk.  DeWitt  C.  Weed,   Treasurer. 


List  of  the   Vestry,  iSiy-ipoj.  409 

Easter,  i860,  to  Easter,  1861. 

WARDENS. 

Russell  II.  Heywood,  Lester  Brace. 

VESTRYMEN. 

William  II.  Walker,  A.  Porter  Thompson,  Erastus  B.  Seymour, 

John  T.  Lacy,  Charles  W.  Evans,  Dr.  Cornelius  C.  Wyckoff. 

Walter  Joy,  Edward  M .  Atwater, 

John  T.  Lacy,  Clerk.  DeWitt  C.  Weed,   Treasurer. 

Easter,  186 1,  to  Easter,  1862. 

WARDENS. 

Russell  H.  Heywood,  Lester  Brace. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Walter  Joy,  Carlos  Cobb,  Asher  P.  Nichols, 

John  S,  Ganson,  William  II.  Walker,  Charles  W.  Evans. 

Erastus  B.  Seymour,  Edward  M.  Atwater, 

John  B.  Eaton,  Clerk.  DeWitt  C.  Weed,  Treasurer. 

Easter,  1862,  to  Easter,  1863. 

WARDENS. 

Russell  II.  Heywood,  Lester  Brace. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Erastus  B.  Seymour,  William  H.  Walker,  Edward  M.  Atwater, 

Charles  W.  Evans,  Walter  Joy,  Seth  II.  Grosvenor. 

Asher  P.  Nichols,  John  S.  Ganson, 

John  B.  Eaton,  Clerk.  DeWitt  C.  Weed,   Treasurer. 

(John  B.  Seymour  appointed  Clerk  September  26, 1S62,  John  B.  Eaton  having  resigned.) 
Easter,  1863,  to  Easter,  1S64. 

WARDENS. 

Lester  Brace,  Charles  W.  Evans. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Erastus  B.  Seymour,  Samuel  G.  Cornell,  Seth  H.  Grosvenor, 

Asher  P.  Nichols,  William  II.  Walker,  Lauren  C.  Woodruff. 

DeWitt  C.  Weed,  Walter  Joy, 

John  B.  Seymour,  Clerk.  DeWitt  C.  Weed,  Treasurer. 


410  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

Easter,  1864,  to  Easter,  1865. 

WARDENS. 

Lester  Brace,  Charles  W.  Evans. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Lauren  C.  Woodruff,  Samuel  G.  Cornell,  Edwin  Hurlbert, 

Asher  P.  Nichols,  Dr.  Thomas  F.  Rochester,      George  E.  Hayes. 

William  H.  Walker,  James  W.  Brown, 

John  B.  Seymour,  Clerk.  DeWitt  C.  Weed,  Treasurer. 


Easter,  1865,  to  Easter,  1866. 

WARDENS. 

Lester  Brace.  Charles  W.  Evans. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Lauren  C.  Woodruff,  Samuel  G.  Cornell,  Edwin  Hurlbert, 

Asher  P.  Nichols,  George  S.  Hazard,  James  W.  Brown. 

William  H.  Walker,  Dr.  Thomas  F.  Rochester, 

John  B.  Seymour,  Clerk.  DeWitt  C.  Weed,   Treasurer. 


Easter,  1866,  to  Easter,  1867. 

WARDENS. 

Lester  Brace,  Charles  W.  Evans. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Lauren  C.  Woodruff,  Samuel  G.  Cornell,  William  H.  Walker, 

Asher  P.  Nichols,  James  Sweeney,  Dr.  Thomas  F.  Rochester. 

Edwin  Hurlbert,  James  W.  Brown, 

John  B.  Seymour,  Clerk.  DeWitt  C.  Weed,   Treasurer. 

Samuel  G.  Cornell,  Charles  W.  Evans,  Edwin  Hurlbert,  James  W.  Brown,  DeWitt 
C.  Weed,  Building  Committee,  to  complete  the  church  edifice,  spire  on  main  tower,  etc. 


List  of  the   Vestry,  iSiy-igoj.  411 

Easter,  1867,  to  Easter,  1868. 

WARDENS. 

Lester  Brace,  Charles  W.  Evans. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Samuel  G.  Cornell,  Dr.  Thomas  F.  Rochester,     James  Sweeney, 

Lauren  C.  Woodruff,  Asher  P.  Nichols,  James  W.  Brown. 

William  H.  Walker,  John  T.  Lacy, 

John  B.  Seymour,  Clerk.  DeWitt  C.  Weed,   Treasurer. 

Samuel  G.  Cornell,   Charles  W.    Evans,  Lauren  C.  Woodruff,  James  W.  Brown, 
DeWitt  C.   Weed,  Building  Committee. 


Easter,  1868,  to  Easter,  1869. 

WARDENS. 

Lester  Brace,  Charles  W.  Evans. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Lauren  C.  Woodruff,  John  T.  Lacy,  John  Pease, 

William  H.  Walker,  James  Sweeney,  Henry  C.  Squire. 

Samuel  G.  Cornell,  George  S.  Hazard, 

John  B.  Seymour,  Clerk.  DeWitt  C.  Weed,  Treasurer. 

Samuel  G.  Cornell,   Charles  W.  Evans,   Lauren  C.  Woodruff,   DeWitt  C.  Weed, 
and  George  S.  Hazard,  Building  Committee. 


Easter,  1869,  to  Easter,  1870. 

WARDENS. 

Lester  Brace,  Charles  W.  Evans. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Lauren  C.  Woodruff,  James  Sweeney,  John  Pease, 

Samuel  G.  Cornell,  A.  Porter  Thompson,  George  S.  Hazard. 

William  H.  Walker,  John  T.  Lacy, 

John  B.  Seymour,  Clerk.  DeWitt  C.  Weed,  Treasurer. 


412  History  of  St.  Paul 's  Church. 

Easter,  1870,  to  Easter,  187 1. 

WARDENS. 

Charles  W.  Evans,  Samuel  G.  Cornell. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Lauren  C.  Woodruff,  James  Sweeney,  John  Pease, 

William  H.  Walker,  Cyrus  Clarke,  John  L.  Kimberly,  Jr. 

A.  Porter  Thompson,  John  T.  Lacy, 

John  B.  Seymour,  Clerk.  DeWitt  C.  Weed,   Treasurer. 

Charles  W.  Evans,  Lauren  C.  Woodruff,  DeWitt  C.  Weed,  Cyrus  Clarke,  Building 
Committee,  to  complete  the  main  spire,  etc. 


Easter,  1871,  to  Easter,  1872. 

WARDENS. 

Charles  W.  Evans,  Lauren  C.  Woodruff. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Cyrus  Clarke,  Mark  B.  Moore,  Henry  T.  Gillett, 

John  T.  Lacy,  George  Beals,  Dr.  C.  C.  Wyckoff. 

Howard  H.  Baker,  George  H.  Smith, 

John  B.  Seymour,  Clerk.  George  Beals,   Treasurer. 

Charles  W.  Evans,  L.  C.  Woodruff,  Building  Committee,  to  complete  spire  of  small 
tower  of  church,  also  the  stone  crosses,  finials,  etc. 

(George   Beals  resigned  as  treasurer,  and  James  W.   Sanford  was  chosen  in  his 
place,  September  21,  1872.) 

Easter,  1872,  to  Easter,  1873. 

WARDENS. 

Charles  W.  Evans,  William  H.  Walker. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Lauren  C.  Woodruff,  Cyrus  Clarke,  George  F.  Lee, 

Samuel  G.  Cornell,  Howard  II.  Baker,  George  Beals. 

John  Pease,  George  S.  Hazard, 

John  B.  Seymour,  Clerk.  James  W.  Sanford,   Treasurer. 


List  of  the   Vestry,  181J-1903.  413 

Easter,  1873,  to  Easter,  1874. 

WARDENS. 

Charles  W.  Evans,  Samuel  G.  Cornell. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Lauren  C.  Woodruff,  George  S.  Hazard,  Howard  H.  Baker, 

Cyrus  Clarke.  John  Pease,  George  Beals. 

William  II .  Walker,  George  F.  Lee, 

John  B.  Seymour,  Clerk.  James  W.  Sanford,   Treasurer, 

Easter,  1874,  to  Easter,  1875. 

WARDENS. 

Charles  W.  Evans,  William  H.  Walker. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Lauren  C.  Woodruff,  Howard  H.  Baker,  DeWitt  C.  Weed, 

George  S.  Hazard,  John  Pease,  Cyrus  Clarke. 

Mark  B.  Moore,  George  Beals, 

John  B.  Seymour,  Clerk.  James  W.  Sanford,  Treasurer. 

Easter,  1875,  to  Easter,  1876. 

WARDENS. 

Charles  W.  Evans,  William  H.  Walker. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Lauren  C.  Woodruff,  George  Beals,  George  S.  Hazard, 

Cyrus  Clarke,  Mark  B.  Moore,  James  Sweeney. 

John  Pease,  Howard  H.  Baker, 

John  B.  Seymour,  Clerk.  James  W.  Sanford,  Treasurer. 

Easter,  1876,  to  Easter,  1877. 

WARDENS. 

Charles  W.  Evans,  William  H.  Walker. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Lauren  C.  Woodruff,  Mark  B.  Moore,                      D.  C.  Godwin, 

Cyrus  Clarke,  George  S.  Hazard,                  Augustus  R.  Davidson. 

John  Pease,  Howard  H.  Baker, 

John  B.  Seymour,  Clerk.  James  W.  Sanford,  Treasurer. 


414  History  of  St.   PauVs  CJmrch. 

Easter,  1877,  to  Easter,  1878. 

WARDENS. 
Charles  W.  Evans,  William  H.  Walker. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Cyrus  Clarke,  George  S.  Hazard,  Augustus  R.  Davidson, 

Lauren  C.  Woodruff,  Mark  B.  Moore,  A.  Porter  Thompson. 

John  Pease,  Howard  H.  Baker, 

John  B.  Seymour,  Clerk.  James  W.  Sanford,   Treasurer. 

(George  B.  Dudley  elected  clerk,  September  7,  1877,  in  place  of  John  B.  Seymour, 
deceased.) 

Easter,  1878,  to  Easter,  1879. 

WARDENS. 

Charles  W.  Evans,  William  H.  Walker. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Cyrus  Clarke,  George  S.  Hazard,  Dr.  Augustus  R.  Davidson, 

Lauren  C.  Woodruff,  Mark  B.  Moore,  A.  Porter  Thompson. 

John  Pease,  Howard  H.  Baker, 

George  B.  Dudley,  Clerk.  James  W.  Sanford,   Treasurer. 


Easter,  1879,  to  Easter,  1880. 

WARDENS. 

Charles  W.  Evans,  William  H.  Walker. 

VESTRYMEN. 

John  Pease,  Lauren  C.  Woodruff,  Mark  R.  Moore, 

Dr.  Augustus  R.  Davidson,  George  S.  Hazard,  Cyrus  Clarke. 

A.  Porter  Thompson, 
(Seven  vestrymen  only.     See  note  foot  of  page  123.) 

William  V.  Warren,  Clerk.  James  W.  Sanford,    Treasurer. 


List  of  the   Vestry,  181J-1903.  415 

Easter,  1880,  to  Easter,  1881. 

WARDENS. 

Charles  W.  Evans,  William  H.  Walker. 

VESTRYMEN. 

John  Pease,  Dr.  Augustus  R.  Davidson,   Howard  H.  Baker, 

A.  Porter  Thompson,  Henry  R.  Howland,  Dr.  Henry  R.  Hopkins. 

Albert  J.  Barnard,  George  Alfred  Stringer, 

William  Y.  Warren,  Clerk.  James  W.  Sanford,   Treasurer. 

Robert  Wilkinson,  Sexton. 

(May  6,  1880,  Theodore  F.  Welch  elected  clerk  in  place  of    William  Y.  Warren, 
resigned.) 

Easter,  188 1,  to  Easter,  1882. 

WARDENS. 

Charles  W.  Evans,  William  II.  Walker. 

VESTRYMEN. 

John  Pease,  Dr.  Augustus  R.  Davidson,   Howard  H.  Baker, 

A.  Porter  Thompson,  George  Alfred  Stringer,         Dr.  Henry  R.  Hopkins. 

Albert  J.  Barnard,  Henry  R.  Howland, 

Theodore  F.  Welch,  Clerk,  James  W.  Sanford,  Treasurer. 


Easter,  1882,  to  Easter,  1883. 

WARDENS. 

Charles  W.  Evans,  William  H.  Walker. 

VESTRYMEN. 

John  Pease,  Dr.  Henry  R.  Hopkins,         George  Alfred  Stringer, 

A.  Porter  Thompson,  Dr.  Augustus  R.  Davidson,  Albert  J.  Barnard. 

Howard  H.  Baker,  Henry  R.  Howland, 

Theodore  F.  Welch,  Clerk.  James  W.  Sanford,   Treasurer. 


4i 6  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

Easter,  1883,  to  Easter,  1884. 

WARDENS. 

Charles  W.  Evans,  William  H.  Walker. 

VESTRYMEN. 

John  Pease,  Dr.  Henry  R.  Hopkins,  George  Alfred  Stringer, 

A.  Porter  Thompson,  Dr.  Augustus  R.  Davidson,    Albert  J.  Barnard. 

Howard  H.  Baker,  Henry  R.  Howland, 

Theodore  F.  Welch,    Clerk.  James  W.  Sanford,   Treasurer. 

Easter,  1884,  to  Easter,  1885. 

WARDENS. 

Charles  W.  Evans,  William  H.  Walker. 

VESTRYMEN. 

John  Pease,  Dr.  Henry  R.  Hopkins,         George  Alfred  Stringer, 

A.  Porter  Thompson,  Dr.  Augustus  R.  Davidson,  Albert  J.  Barnard. 

James  R.  Smith,  Robert  P.  Wilson, 

Theodore  F.  Welch,  Clerk.  James  W.  Sanford,  Treasurer. 

Easter,  1885,  to  Easter,  1886. 

WARDENS. 

Charles  W.  Evans,  William  H.  Walker. 

VESTRYMEN. 

John  Pease,  Dr.  Augustus  R.  Davidson,   Robert  P.  Wilson, 

A.  Porter  Thompson,  Dr.  Henry  R.  Hopkins,         Albert  J.  Barnard. 

James  R.  Smith,  George  Alfred  Stringer, 

G.  Hunter  Bartlett,  Clerk.  James  W.  Sanford,   Treasurer. 

Easter,  1886,  to  Easter,  1887. 

WARDENS. 

Charles  W.  Evans,  William  H.  Walker. 

VESTRYMEN. 

John  Pease,  Dr.  Augustus  R.  Davidson,    Robert  P.  Wilson, 

A.  Porter  Thompson,  Dr.  Henry  R.  Hopkins,  Albert  J.  Barnard. 

James  R.  Smith,  George  Alfred  Stringer, 

G.  Hunter  Bartlett,  Clerk.  James  W.  Sanford,   Treasurer. 


List  of  the   Vestry,  iSiy-ipoj.  417 

Easter,  1887,  to  Easter,  1888. 

WARDENS. 

Charles  W.  Evans,  William  H.  Walker. 

VESTRYMEN. 

John  Pease,  Dr.  Augustus  R.  Davidson,  Robert  P.  Wilson, 

A.  Porter  Thompson,  Dr.  Henry  R.  Hopkins,         Albeit  J.  Barnard. 

James  R.  Smith,  George  Alfred  Stringer, 

G.  Hunter  Bartlett,  Clerk.         James  W.  Sanford,   Treasurer. 

Easter,  1888,  to  Easter,  1889. 

WARDENS. 

Charles  W.  Evans,  William  H.  Walker. 

VESTRYMEN. 

John  Pease,  Dr.  Augustus  R.  Davidson,   Robert  P.  Wilson, 

A.  Porter  Thompson.  Dr.  Henry  R.  Hopkins,        Albert  J.  Barnard. 

James  R.  Smith,  George  Alfred  Stringer, 

G.  Hunter  Bartlett,  Clerk.  James  W.  Sanford,   Treasurer. 

Albert  J.  Barnard,  William  H.  Walker,  A.  Porter  Thompson,  Dr.  Henry  R.  Hop- 
kins, Robert  P.  Wilson,  George  A.  Stringer,  James  R.  Smith,  Building  Committee,  in 
rebuilding  the  church  after  the  fire  of  May  10,  18S8.  Charles  W.  Evans,  senior 
warden,  died  February  8,  1889. 

Easter,  1889,  to  Easter,  1890. 

WARDENS. 

William  H.  Walker,  A.  Porter  Thompson. 

VESTRYMEN. 

John  Pease,  George  Alfred  Stringer,         James  Sweeney, 

James  R.  Smith,  Robert  P.  Wilson,  Edmund  Hayes. 

Dr.  Henry  R.  Hopkins,        Albert  J.  Barnard, 

G.  Hunter  Bartlett,  Clerk.  James  W.  Sanford,   Treasurer. 

William  Graveson,  Sexton. 

Easter,  1890,  to  Easter,  1891. 

WARDENS. 

William  H.  Walker,  A.  Porter  Thompson. 

VESTRYMEN. 

John  Pease,  George  Alfred  Stringer,         James  Sweeney, 

James  R.  Smith,  Robert  P.  Wilson,  Edmund  Hayes. 

Dr.  Henry  R.  Hopkins,        Albert  J.  Barnard, 

G.  Hunter  Bartlett,  Clerk.  James  W.  Sanford,  Treasurer. 


41 8  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

Easter,  1891,  to  Easter,  1892. 

WARDENS. 

William  H.  Walker,  A.  Porter  Thompson. 

VESTRYMEN. 

John  Pease,  James  R.  Smith,  James  Sweeney, 

Albert  J.  Barnard,  Robert  P.  Wilson,  Sheldon  T.  Viele. 

George  Alfred  Stringer,  Edmund  Hayes, 

G.  Hunter  Bartlett,  Clerk.  Philip  Joyce,   Treasurer. 

(February  9,  1892,  Charles  R.  Wilson  elected  clerk  in  place  of  G.  Hunter  Bartlett, 
resigned.) 

Easter,  1892,  to  Easter,  1893. 

WARDENS. 

William  II.  Walker,  A.  Porter  Thompson. 

VESTRYMEN. 

John  Pease,                             James  R.  Smith,  James  Sweeney, 

Albert  J.  Barnard,                  Robert  P.  Wilson,  Sheldon  T.  Viele. 
George  Alfred  Stringer,         Edmund  Hayes, 

Charles  R.  Wilson,  Clerk.  Philip  Joyce,  Treasurer. 

(July  1,   1892,  William  A.  Joyce  appointed    treasurer   in  place  of  Philip  Joyce, 
resigned.) 

Easter,  1893,  to  Easter,  1894. 

WARDENS. 

William  H.  Walker,  A.  Porter  Thompson. 

VESTRYMEN. 

John  Pease,  James  R.  Smith,  Sheldon  T.  Viele, 

Albert  J.  Bernard,  Edmund  Hayes,  Hobart  Weed. 

George  Alfred  Stringer,         James  Sweeney, 

Charles  R.  Wilson,  Clerk.  William  A.  Joyce,   Treasurer. 

Lorenzo  Harris,  Sexton. 

Easter,  1894,  to  Easter,  1895. 

WARDENS. 

William  H.  Walker,  A.  Porter  Thompson. 

VESTRYMEN. 

John  Pease,  Edmund  Hayes,  Sheldon  T.  Viele, 

Albert  J.  Barnard,  James  Sweeney,  Hobart  Weed. 

James  R.  Smith,  Charles  R.  Wilson, 

Charles  R.  Wilson,  Clerk.  William  A.  Joyce,   Treasurer. 


List  of  the   Vestry,  i8ij-iqoj.  419 

Easter,  1895,  to  Easter,  1896. 

WARDENS. 

William  H.  Walker,  A.  Porter  Thompson. 

VESTRYMEN. 

John  Pease,  Edmund  Hayes,  Hobart  Weed, 

Albert  J.  Barnard,  James  Sweeney,  Charles  R.  Wilson. 

James  R.  Smith,  Sheldon  T.  Yiele, 

Charles  R.  Wilson,  Clerk.  William  A.  Joyce,   Treasurer. 

Easter,  1896,  to  Advent,  1896. 

WARDENS. 

William  H.  Walker,  A.  Porter  Thompson. 

VESTRYMEN. 

John  Pease,  James  Sweeney,  Hobart  Weed, 

Albert  J.  Barnard.  Sheldon  T.  Viele,  Charles  R.  Wilson. 

Edmund  Hayes,  James  R.  Smith, 

Charles  R.  Wilson,  Clerk.  William  A.  Joyce,  Treasurer. 

Advent,  1896,  to  Advent,  1897. 

(Vestry  elected  on  the  Monday  after  the  First  Sunday  in  Advent,  November  30, 
1896,  being  the  first  election  under  the  new  rule.     See  page  202.) 

WARDENS. 

William  H.  Walker,  A.  Porter  Thompson. 

VESTRYMEN. 

John  Pease,  Edmund  Hayes,  Hobart  Weed. 

Albert  J.  Barnard,  James  Sweeney,  Charles  R.  Wilson, 

James  R.  Smith,  Sheldon  T.  Viele,  Dr.  M.  D.  Mann. 

Charles  R.  Wilson,  Clerk.  W.  A.  Joyce,   Treasurer. 

Advent,  1897,  to  Advent,  1898. 

WARDENS. 

William  H.  Walker,  A.  Porter  Thompson. 

VESTRYMEN. 

John  Pease,  Edmund  Hayes,  Hobart  Weed, 

Albert  J.  Barnard.  James  Sweeney,  Charles  R.  Wilson, 

James  R.  Smith,  Sheldon  T.  Viele,  Dr.  M.  D.  Mann. 

Charles  R.  Wilson,  Clerk.  W.  A.  Joyce,   Treasurer. 


420  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

Advent,  1898,  to  Advent,  1899. 

WARDENS. 

William  H.  Walker,  A.  Porter  Thompson. 

VESTRYMEN. 

John  Pease,  Edmund  Hayes,  Hobart  Weed, 

Albert  J.  Barnard,  James  Sweeney,  Charles  R.  Wilson, 

James  R.  Smith,  Sheldon  T.  Viele,  Dr.  M.  D.  Mann. 

Charles  R.  Wilson,  Clerk.  W.  A.  Joyce,   Treasurer. 

Advent,  1899,  to  Advent,  1900. 

WARDENS. 

William  H.  Walker,  A.  Porter  Thompson. 

VESTRYMEN. 

John  Pease,  Edmund  Hayes,  Hobart  Weed, 

Albert  J.  Barnard,  James  Sweeney,  Charles  R.  Wilson, 

James  R.  Smith,  Sheldon  T.  Viele,  Dr.  M.  D.  Mann. 

Charles  R.  Wilson,  Clerk.  W.  A.  Joyce,   Treasurer. 

Advent,  1900,  to  Advent,  1901. 

WARDENS. 

William  H.  Walker,  A.  Porter  Thompson. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Albert  J.  Barnard,  James  Sweeney,  Charles  R.  Wilson, 

James  R.  Smith,  Sheldon  T.  Viele,  Dr.  M.  D.  Mann, 

Edmund  Hayes,  Hobart  Weed,  John  R.  H.  Richmond. 

Charles  R.  Wilson,  Clerk.  W.  A.  Joyce,  Treasurer. 

Advent,  1901,  to  Advent,  1902. 

WARDENS. 

William  H.  Walker,  A.  Porter  Thompson. 

VESTRYMEN. 

Albert  J.  Barnard,  James  Sweeney,  Charles  R.  Wilson, 

James  R.  Smith,  Sheldon  T.  Viele,  Dr.  M.  D.  Mann, 

Edmund  Hayes,  Hobart  Weed,  John  R.  H.  Richmond. 

Charles  R.  Wilson,  Clerk.  W.  A.  Joyce,  Treasurer. 

Advent,  1902,  to  Advent,   1903. 

No  changes  in  vestry  at  election,  held  Advent,  December  1,  1902. 

William  H.  Walker,  senior  warden,  died  January  4,  1903.     January  12,  1903,  the 

vestry  elected  Charles  R.  Wilson,  vestryman,  as  warden,  and  E.  Howard  Hutchinson 

as    vestryman.     John    K.   Walker   was    elected   clerk  of   the  vestry  and   John   M. 

Provoost,  treasurer. 


The  Architects  of  St.  Paul's.  421 


TLbc  Hrcbitects  of  St.  Paul's. 

1819-1890. 

John  Stacy  appears  to  have  been  the  master  builder  of  the  original 
frame  church  in  1819-1821.  No  architect  is  mentioned.  The  builder 
probably  acted  as  such,  as  was  customary  in  those  early  days. 

The  plans  for  lengthening  the  church,  increasing  the  height  of  the 
tower,  and  minor  changes,  in  the  year  1828,  were  made  by  Joseph 
Stow. 

Richard  Upjohn,  Sr.,  of  New  York  City,  the  architect  of  Trinity 
Church,  New  York,  was  the  architect  of  the  new  stone  edifice,  begun 
in  1849,  from  that  date  to  the  completion  of  the  building  in  1873. 

Richard  Upjohn  was  born  at  Shaftesbury,  England,  on  the  22d  of 
January,  1802.  He  came  to  America  in  1S29,  bringing  with  him  his 
family,  his  son,  Richard  M.  Upjohn,  being  then  one  year  old.  He 
settled  first  at  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  and  in  1833  removed  to  Boston, 
soon  after  which  he  designed  the  entrance  gateways  of  Boston  Com- 
mon. Before  beginning  his  career  as  an  architect,  he  had  received  a 
thorough  technical  training  and  practical  experience  as  a  master  builder. 
In  1839,  he  was  called  to  New  York  City  to  take  charge  of  some 
proposed  alterations  in  Trinity  Church,  but  it  was  decided  instead 
to  build  an  entirely  new  edifice,  and  the  commission  was  entrusted  to 
Mr.  Upjohn.  The  new  Trinity,  completed  in  1S46,  was  conceded  to 
be  the  most  beautiful  church  building  in  the  United  States,  and  it 
made  his  name  famous. 

Among  many  other  important  buildings  designed  and  built  by  him, 
are  St.  Thomas's  Church,  Trinity  Chapel,  the  Church  of  the  Holy 
Communion,  the  Corn  Exchange  Bank,  and  Trinity  Building,  New 
York  City  ;  Christ  and  Grace  Churches,  and  Church  of  the  Pilgrims, 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.;  and  St.  Mary's  Church,  Burlington,  N.  J. 

In  April,  1849,  the  rector  and  vestry  of  St.  Paul's  decided  to  adopt 
the  plans  for  the  new  church  furnished  by  Mr.  Upjohn,  and  the  work 


422  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

was  forthwith  begun.  The  general  direction  of  the  construction  was 
carried  on  by  correspondence  with  the  building  committees,  from  Mr. 
Upjohn's  office  in  New  York,  and  he  made  a  number  of  trips  to  Buf- 
falo in  order  to  inspect  the  progress  of  the  work.  These  letters  show 
that  there  was  no  minutest  point  about  the  building  and  finishing  of 
the  church  with  which  Mr.  Upjohn  was  not  familiar,  and  which  he  did 
not  direct.  The  actual  work  was  done  under  the  superintendence  of 
men  recommended  by  him.  Thomas  R.  Williams,  who  had  been  in  a 
similar  responsible  position  in  the  building  of  other  of  Mr.  Upjohn's 
churches  (page  56),  being  engaged  to  look  after  the  stone-work  ;  and 
George  Riker,  whom  he  considered  as  well  qualified  for  his  important 
position  as  Mr.  Williams  for  his,  was  engaged  to  superintend  all  wood- 
work. (Page  57.)  In  1854,  when  it  was  decided  to  resume  work  on 
the  tower,  porches,  etc.,  Mr.  Williams  being  in  England,  the  committee 
engaged  Robert  Harron  to  superintend,  and,  after  his  death,  the  work 
was  looked  after  by  John  A.  Lipp,  who  had  been  foreman  under  Mr. 
Harron.     (For  builders  of  spire,  see  pages  107,  121.) 

Mr.  Upjohn's  services  as  architect  of  St.  Paul's  extended  over  a 
period  of  twenty-four  years,  of  course  with  intermissions,  and  all  of  the 
work  was  attended  to  personally  by  himself,  with  the  exception  of  a 
few  months  in  1850,  during  a  short  absence  in  Europe,  when  his  son, 
Richard  M.  Upjohn,  advised  whenever  necessary.  On  his  return  he 
took  his  son  into  partnership,  January  1,  1851,  the  firm  being  then 
known  as  Upjohn  &  Co.  He  allowed  much  of  the  business  of  the 
firm  to  devolve  upon  the  younger  partner,  but  he  himself  continued  to 
look  after  the  work  on  St.  Paul's.  He  felt  an  affectionate  pride  in  the 
church,  and  it  is  even  said  that  he  considered  it  his  masterpiece. 

Mr.  Upjohn  seems  to  have  been  very  much  in  advance  of  his  genera- 
tion in  regard  to  the  artistic  possibilities  of  the  building,  especially  in 
its  minor  details.  He  was  most  cheerfully  seconded  by  Dr.  Shelton 
and  by  members  of  the  building  committee. 

The  period  of  the  '50's  was  not  noted  for  the  excellence  of  its 
ideas  on   interior  decoration,  which   makes  the  more   noticeable   Mr. 


The  Architects  of  St.  Paul's.  423 

Upjohn's  own  good  taste.  He  had  a  genuine  insight  into  the  artistic 
fitness  of  things,  and  a  sensitive  feeling  for  harmony  of  color  with  form 
in  the  buildings  he  designed. 

His  letters  in  regard  to  the  effect  of  the  proper  use  of  stained  glass 
in  churches  show  this  particularly.  Having  heard  that  some  of  the 
members  of  the  congregation  were  intending  to  have  their  pews 
upholstered  in  whatever  materials  and  colors  they  might  fancy,  he 
wrote  a  characteristic  and  justifiable  letter  of  protest  to  Dr.  Shelton, 
in  September,  185 1  :  "People  may  be  as  fantastic  as  they  please  in 
their  dwellings,  ....  but  in  the  Church  of  God  they  have  no  right 
to  show  off  their  follies,  notwithstanding  they  may  be  owners  of  pews. 
I  have  usually  covered  the  seats  or  cushions  with  good,  plain  crimson 
damask, —  this  contrasts  well  with  the  rich-toned  black  walnut.  The 
color  of  the  carpet  is  the  same,  the  figure —  if  any  —  is  small  and  fit- 
ting the  architecture  of  the  church."  .... 

He  always  insisted,  on  what  probably  seemed  strange  to  many  at 
the  time,  that  the  architect  had  the  right  to  control  all  the  details  of 
the  church  which  he  was  laboring  so  devotedly  to  make,  as  he  said, 
"a  work  of  art,"  that  should  endure  for  long  years  to  come.  To  the 
credit  of  all  concerned,  Mr.Upjohn's  superior  judgment  was  deferred  to. 

Dr.  Shelton's  reference  to  Richard  Upjohn,  in  his  first  sermon 
preached  in  the  new  church,  November  2,  1851,  will  be  found  at  page 
75.  Numerous  other  references  to  Mr.  Upjohn  are  scattered  through 
the  earlier  pages  of  this  book. 

Bishop  Coxe's  Christian  Ballads  were  first  published  in  1840,  when 
Richard  Upjohn  was  beginning  his  work  on  Trinity  Church,  New  York. 
In  the  preface  to  a  later  edition  of  the  Ballads,  the  Bishop  thus  refers 
to  this  earlier  period  :  "  The  author  must  beg  his  readers  to  remember 
that  many  things  which  are  now  familiar  to  everybody  in  America 
were  wholly  unknown  among  us  when  these  ballads  were  produced. 
Their  author  was  obliged  to  imagine  much  that  may  now  be  seen  in 
almost  every  part  of  the  land.  When  he  wrote  them,  there  was  not  a 
church  in  the  country  which   could  sustain  any  other  than  the  most 


424  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

moderate  pretensions  to  architectural  correctness  in  design  or  decora- 
tion. He  had  never  seen  more  than  a  few  panes  of  stained  glass  in  a 
church  window,  nor  heard  a  complete  chime  ;  and  there  was  not  to  be 
seen,  on  this  continent,  so  far  as  he  is  informed,  an  open  roof,  or  a  well- 
defined  chancel,  or  genuine  aisles,  or  a  nave  with  a  clerestory."  .... 
Of  "Trinity,  New  Church,  Ascension  Day,  1846/'  he  wrote:  — 

....    "Not  this  a  Gothic  gazing-stock, 

Where  nought  is  meant  or  told  ; 
Translated  into  solid  rock 

The  prayer-book's  self  behold  ! 
Sermons  in  stones  !    Yes  —  more  beside, 

A  language,  and  a  voice  ! 
Much  uttered  —  but  far  more  implied 

That  makes  the  heart  rejoice. 

"Without  —  each  little  carving  speaks 
Of  Christ,  the  Crucified  .... 

....    To  all  the  faithful  —  see, 

From  porch  to  topmost  tower, 
It  telleth  of  the  Trinity, 

And  preacheth  Christ  with  power  !".... 

Richard  Upjohn's  churches,  although  noted  for  the  purity  of  their 
style,  were  not  mere  copies  of  foreign  examples. 

His  love  for  Gothic  was  inborn,  his  knowledge  full.  It  was  a  part 
of  his  life.  The  spirit  of  the  Old  Master-Builders  was  upon  him,  and 
he  put  into  his  work  an  almost  mediaeval  ardor  and  originality.  The 
building  of  a  church  was  to  him  much  more  than  the  solving  of 
an  architectural  problem  —  it  was  the  creation  of  a  House  of  God,  for 
which  nothing  was  more  fit  than  the  glorious  architecture  hallowed  by 
the  pious  use  of  centuries.  His  civic  buildings  are  usually  in  the  style 
of  the  Italian  Renaissance,  but  Gothic  was  the  passion  of  his  life.  He 
was  forty-seven  years  of  age  when  St.  Paul's  was  begun,  in  1849,  and 
when  the  last  firiial  was  put  in  place,  in  1873,  ne  had  reached  his  sev- 
enty-second year. 


The  Architects  of  St.  Paul's.  425 

Mr.  Upjohn  was  one  of  the  founders,  and  the  first  president  of  the 
American  Institute  of  Architects,  serving  from  its  foundation  in  1857 
to  1876. 

He  died  at  his  home  at  Garrison's-on-the-Hudson,  August  16, 
1878,  aged  seventy-six  years. 

His  son,  Richard  M.  Upjohn,  has  ably  carried  on  the  traditions  of 
the  firm.  He  has  designed  and  built  many  beautiful  churches,  and 
was  a  pioneer  in  fireproof  construction  in  New  York.  His  chief  work 
is  the  splendid  Capitol  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  which  has  the  largest  stone 
dome  in  the  country.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  New  York 
Chapter  of  the  American  Institute  of  Architects,  and  was  president  of 
that  Chapter  for  1892  and  1895. 

Robert  W.  Gibson  of  New  York  was  the  architect  of  the  restored 
St.  Paul's,  after  the  fire  of  1888. 

Robert  Williams  Gibson  was  born  in  1854,  at  Essex,  England,  and 
was  the  son  of  Samuel  Lodwick  Gibson.  Mr.  Gibson  was  educated  at 
Gravesend,  England,  and  at  the  Royal  Academy  of  Arts,  London. 
He  came  to  the  United  States  in  1 881,  and  in  that  year  began  the  prac- 
tice of  architecture  at  Albany,  N.  Y.  In  1888  he  removed  to  New  York 
City.  Among  his  more  important  works  may  be  mentioned  All  Saints' 
Cathedral  at  Albany;  Christ  Church,  Rochester,  N.  Y.;  and  in  New 
York  City,  St.  Michael's  Church,  the  New  York  Clearing  House,  and 
the  Botanical  Museum. 

His  work  at  St.  Paul's  Church  was  far  more  than  a  restoration,  and 
involved  very  important  changes  and  additions  in  the  original  design 
of  Richard  Upjohn,  which  were  most  skilfully  and  harmoniously  car- 
ried out. 

The  aspect  of  the  interior  of  the  church  has  been  much  changed  by 
Mr.  Gibson,  and  has  gained  greatly  in  apparent  size  and  impressiveness. 
The  transepts,  giving  a  cruciform  effect,  the  stone  columns  and  the 
clere-story,  the  stone  vestry  room  and  porch  on  Church  Street,  and  the 
enlarged  and  beautified  chancel,  are  all  due  to  his  skill,  and  are  all 
entirely  in  keeping  with  the  original  work.     Mr.  Gibson  has  planned 


426  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

in  complete  and  loyal  sympathy  with  the  original  design  of  the 
church,  of  which  he  has  made  his  work  a  development,  carrying  it  on 
to  greater  beauty  and  perfection. 

A  detailed  description  of  Mr.  Gibson's  very  successful  remodeling 
of  the  edifice,  and  of  the  beautiful  interior  furnishings  executed  from 
his  designs,  will  be  found  in  the  chapter  in  this  volume  entitled  "The 
Restored  St.  Paul's."     (Page  265.) 

Cyrus  K.  Porter  &  Son  of  Buffalo,  the  architects  of  Trinity  Church, 
Buffalo,  and  of  many  other  well-known  buildings,  acted  as  supervising 
architects  during  Mr.  Gibson's  work  on  St.  Paul's. 

Subscription  Xists. 

It  should  be  mentioned  that  only  the  more  important  subscription 
lists  are  given  here  and  elsewhere  in  this  book.  There  were  many 
minor  lists  for  parish  work,  music,  new  organs,  etc.,  which  have  not 
been  transcribed  here  ;  and,  indeed,  of  much  of  the  liberal  giving  of 
the  parish  no  formal  record  is  available.  The  first  subscription,  in 
1818,  towards  building  the  frame  church,  will  be  found  at  page  13. 

SUBSCRIPTIONS    FOR    REBUILDING    ST.    PAUL'S   CHURCH,    1848. 

The  following  subscription  list  for  rebuilding  St.  Paul's  Church,  in 
1848,  and  the  subsequent  lists,  are  here  given  as  they  appear  in  the 
"red-bound  book"  which  Dr.  Shelton  carried  to  the  parishioners  for 
their  signatures  : 

"  We,  the  subscribers,  do  severally  promise  to  pay  to  the  Treasurer  of  St.  Paul's 
Church,  in  the  City  of  Buffalo,  the  sums  set  opposite  our  respective  names,  to  be 
applied  towards  the  building  and  completion  of  a  church  edifice,  on  the  lot  now 
owned  by  St.  Paul's  Church,  after  the  plans  furnished  by  Mr.  Upjohn,  or  such  other 
plans  as  he  may  furnish  ;  and  for  the  payment  of  such  subscriptions  we  severally 
agree,  whenever  forty-eight  thousand  dollars  are  subscribed  hereto,  to  give  our 
promissory  notes  for  the  amount  of  our  respective  subscriptions,  payable  at  one  of  the 
banks  in  Buffalo  in  six  equal  payments,  at  four,  eight,  twelve,  sixteen,  twenty,  and 
twenty-four  months  after  the  date  thereof. 


Subscription   Lists. 


427 


"  The  church  when  completed  is  to  be  consecrated  and  set  apart  exclusively  as  a 
place  of  public  worship,  according  to  the  rites  and  ceremonies  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church  of  the  United  States  of  America  ;  and  the  subscribers  hereto  may  become 
interested  therein  in  the  manner  and  upon  the  terms  hereinafter  specified  ;  to  all  of 
which  the  corporation  above  named,  by  the  acceptance  of  our  respective  signatures  to 
this  subscription,  declare  their  assent,  and  do  bind  themselves  and  their  successors  in 
office  to  the  just  and  faithful  performance  of  the  same. 

"When  the  said  church  shall  be  completed,  or  sooner  if  the  vestry  shall  deem  it 
expedient,  the  vestry  shall  affix  a  valuation  to  each  of  the  slips  in  it,  except  those 
reserved  as  free  seats,  and  shall  upon  due  notice  offer  the  slips  to  which  valuations  are 
affixed  for  competition  of  choice  at  public  auction,  subject  to  such  conditions  and 
reservations  as  the  vestry  may  deem  proper  for  the  future  maintenance  of  public  wor- 
ship therein,  and  to  defray  the  contingent  and  other  expenses  of  said  corporation. 
At  the  time  of  giving  the  notes  above  specified,  transferrable  certificates  shall  be 
issued  under  the  corporate  seal,  which  certificates,  when  said  notes  shall  be  fully  paid, 
shall  entitle  the  holder  to  apply  the  same  as  cash  in  payment  for  slips  in  said  church  at 
the  first  public  sale  above  specified  ;  and  after  the  first  public  sale  the  holder  of  any 
such  certificate  may  select  any  unsold  slip  at  the  valuation  so  affixed  and  apply  the 
amount  of  such  certificate,  when  fully  paid,  as  cash  in  payment  therefor,  on  such 
terms  and  conditions  as  the  vestry  shall  prescribe  ;  but  all  such  certificates  not  pre- 
sented or  exchanged  for  slips  within  six  months  after  the  church  shall  be  consecrated 
shall  be  deemed  a  donation  to  the  church. 
Buffalo,  July  8,  1S4S. 


R.  H.  Heywood,       .     .     .     .  \ 
William  Williams  (1st  sub.),    . 
John  L.  Kimberly,    .... 
Mrs.  Louisa  M.  Weed  (stock), 
Mrs. Louisa  M.Weed  (add. stock) 
Te Witt  C.  Weed, 
Geo.  Truscott, 

Samuel  D.  Fla 

Henry  Hagar  (1st 
Elijah  Ford, 
Lester  Brace, 


sub.). 


I    T.  Hatch,     . 

Geo.  E.  Hayes 

John  T.  Lacy  (in  3  years), 


15,000  00  A.  E.  Hart, $  500.00 

2,000.00  Wm.  Sutton, 200.00 

1,500.00  Robt.  Hart, 300.00 

1,000.00  A.  Hayden  (no  notes),   .     .     .  400.00 

1,400.00  Henry  I.  Warren  (assumed  by 

1,200.00             E.  S.  Warren),     ....  200.00 

500.00  John  D.  Shepard,      ....  400.00 

400.00  John  Hebard  (1st  sub.),  200.00 

1,000.00  Seth  E.  Sill, 500.00 

800.00  Geo.  N.  Burwell,       ....  500.00 

40000  Henry  H.  Sizer 500.00 

1,000.00  Geo    W.   Bull,  for  self  ;    F.    S. 
200.00  Wheeler  and  J.  W.  Sanford, 

500.00            $100  each, 300.00 

250.00  Sheldon  Thompson  (1st  sub.),  1,000.00 


428 


History  of  St.  Paul 's  CJinrch. 


Henry  K.  Viele 

A.  Porter  Thompson, 

Lydia  Pomeroy, 

John  Patterson, 

Stephen  Walker  (ist  sub.), 

J.  B.  Bull, 

S.  B.  Van  de  Venter,     .     .     . 

Mrs.  E.  B.  Mathews,     .     .     . 

Sylvia  Chapin, 

Wm.  H.  Walker  (ist  sub.),     ■ 

Thos.  Jones  ($10  paid  into 
Building  Fund  Society  and 
credited  on  their  books),     . 

Samuel  L.  Meech,     . 

Thomas  Savage,   .     . 

Geo.  J.  Webb,      .     . 

Nelson  Willard  (ist  sub 

H.  S.  Chamberlain,  . 

Henry  Hamilton, 

G.  H.  Goodrich,  .     . 

Elijah  Ford  (to  be  paid  in  1S51), 

Henry  Hagar  (2d  sub. ,  to  be  paid 
in  1851) 

James  C.  Evans, 

Ellicott  Evans, 

H.  K.  Smith 

Seth  H.  Grosvenor 

E.  S.  Warren 

Henry  Moore 

John  Pease,      

A.  I.  Mathews  (ist  sub.),   .     . 

G.  R.  Wilson 

James  D.  Sheppard  (ist  sub.), 

H.  Colton 

Ira  A.  Blossom  (ist  sub.),  .     . 

A.  H.  Caryl  (ist  sub.),  .     .     . 

Henry  Wells  ($10  paid  into 
Building  Fund  Society  and 
credited  on  their  books),     . 


$  500.00 
500.00 
500.00 

1,000.00 
200.00 
300.00 
300.00 
200.00 
150.00 
100.00 


10.00 
100.00 
100.00 
200.00 
500.00 
200.00 
400.00 
300.00 
200.00 

500.00 
300  00 
300.00 
500.00 
300.00 
500.00 
200.00 
500.00 
250.00 
500.00 
400.00 
300.00 
500.00 
300.00 


Loring  Peirce, 
Henry  Streater,     . 
Abel  Archer,    .     . 
Austin  Flint,    .     . 
Horatio  Seymour,  Jr 
Philo  Dubois  (ist  sub.), 
Benjamin  Brent  (by  W,  S 
Robert  Kittle  (ist  sub.), 
George  Gibson,     . 
John  E.  Russell,   . 
Jesse  Ralph,     .     . 
Thomas  Mathews, 
Asher  P.  Nichols, 
Charles  W.  Evans  (ist  sub 
Jacob  A.  Barker  (ist  sub.), 
James  P.  Provoost,    . 
E.  L.  Stevenson, 
Albert  H.  Tracy, 
Walter  Joy,      .     . 
Sheldon  Thompson  (2d  sub.), 
William  Williams  (2d  sub.), 
James  D.  Sheppard  (2d  sub.) 
Jacob  A.  Barker  (2d  sub.), 
A.  I.  Mathews  (2d  sub.).    . 
Nelson  Willard  (2d  sub.)    . 
Wm.  H.  Walker  (2d  sub.), 
Robert  Kittle  (2d  sub.),      . 
A.  H.  Caryl  (2d  sub.),   .     . 
Philo  Dubois  (2d  sub.), 
Stephen  Walker  (2d  sub.),  . 
G.  B.  Webster  (ist  sub.),    . 

Lewis  Eaton 

Silas  Sawin, 

Ira  A.  Blossom  (2d  sub.),   . 
Wm.  A.  Thompson, 
Charles  W.  Evans  (2d  sub.), 
George  C.  Webster  (ist  sub.) 
C.  L.  Brace  (per  L.  B.),     . 
Jeremiah  Staats 


$  10.00 
200.00 

50.00 
100.00 
200. 00 
100.00 
100.00 
100.00 

50.00 
200.00 
100.00 
100.00 
100.00 
600.00 
400.00 
500.00 
1,000.00 
1,000.00 
1,000.00 
400.00 
400.00 
100.00 
100.00 
100.00 
100.00 

25.00 

25.00 
100.00 
100.00 

50.00 
2,500.00 
300.00 
300.00 
100.00 
300.00 
200.00 
400.00 
200.00 
200.00 


Subscription  Lists. 


429 


B.  C.  Caryl,              j 

.     $  500.00 

Charles  W.  Evans  (3d  sub.) 

.     $  200.00 

N.  H.  Warner,        \       '     ' 

A.  I.  Mathews  (3d  sub.),    . 

150.00 

500.00 

Wm.  H.  Walker  (3d  sub.)  . 

100.00 

Geo.  C.  Webster  (2d  sub.), 

100.00 

James  V.  DeWitt,     .     .      . 

200.00 

Wm.  Williams  (3d  sub.),    . 

700.00 

David  Forbey 

50.00 

G.  B.  Webster  (2d  sub.),    . 

r, 000. 00 

John  Hebard  (2d  sub.), 

50.00 

Geo.  S.  Burns,      .... 

100.00 

,870.00 
See  pages  52  and  53. 

A  condensed  form  of  the  above  list  will  be  found  at  page  53,  in 
which  the  total  amounts  given  by  each  subscriber  are  summarized. 
The  list  is  given  above  in  its  original  form  as  an  object  lesson,  to  show 
how  St.  Paul's  was  built  —  the  same  persons  giving  again  and  again 
as  the  need  arose,  often  under  circumstances  involving  much  personal 
self-denial,  which  was  very  real  in  the  business  conditions  of  the  small 
city  of  Buffalo  of  those  days.  It  must  be  remembered  that  the  popu- 
lation of  Buffalo  in  1850  was  only  42,261. 


The  general  feeling  among  the  parishioners  in  regard  to  the  build- 
ing of  the  new  church  is  well  expressed  in  the  following  extract  from 
an  address  delivered  by  William  H.  Walker,  at  the  Christmas  dinner 
(1849)  of  the  "Junior  Vestry."     (See  page  57.) 

....  "The  parish  of  St.  Paul's  in  which  it  has  been  our  good  fortune  to  be 
trained,  has  experienced  many  changes  within  six  years;  it  has  increased  largely  in 
number,  in  communicants,  and  in  liberality.  Age  has  not  destroyed  its  energies,  for 
now,  with  the  vigor  and  zeal  of  youth,  it  has  addressed  itself  to  a  new  and  glorious 
enterprise,  the  erection  of  a  spacious  and  imposing  House  of  Prayer,  ....  a  church 
complete  and  beautiful  in  its  proportion,  where  we  shall  find  '  sermons  in  stones '  and 
the  Prayer  Book  speaking  to  us  from  every  part,  from  the  firm  foundation  to  the 
heavenward  pointing  spire.  May  we  all  live  to  hear  the  glorious  music  from  its  chimes, 
and  in  years  to  come  listen  to  them  with  hearts  in  unison  with  their  peaceful  and  solemn 
tones."  .... 


SUBSCRIPTION,   1851. 

"We,  the  undersigned,   hereby  agree  to   give  our  notes  to  the  Treasurer  of   St. 
Paul's  Parish,  payable  at  some  bank  in  the  City  of  Buffalo,  for  the  amount  set  opposite 


43Q 


History  of  St.  Paul's  CliurcJi. 


H.  K.  Smith, $300.00 

Lester  Brace 300.00 


our  names  in  three  equal  payments  at  five,  seven,  and  nine  months  from  this  date, 
without  interest,  for  the  purpose  of  finishing  St.  Paul's  Church.  For  which  notes  we 
agree  to  receive  certificates  from  said  Treasurer,  bearing  interest  after  said  notes  are 
paid,  and  redeemable  in  stock  in  said  church  or  money,  as  we  shall  elect  at  the  time  of 
sale  of  slips  in  said  church. 

Buffalo,  January  4,  1851. 

John  W.  Williams $700.00 

Samuel  D.  Flagg 500.00 

Geo.  E.  Hayes 500.00 

Louisa    M.   Weed  and  DeWitt 

C.   Weed, 500.00 

Elijah  Ford, 500.00 

John  L.  Kimberly 600.00 

E.  S.  Warren, 600.00 

J.  B.  Bull, 600.00 

A.  E.  Hart,      ....          .  300.00 

James  D.  Sheppard,        .     .     .  300.00 

Sheldon  Thompson 1,000.00 

George  Truscott, 300.00 

I.  T.  Hatch, 600.00 

John  Pease, 200.00 

Benjamin  Bradley,      ....  300.00 


Reported    to   the  vestry  Jan 

uary  14,    1851,     .     .     . 

SS 

,100.00 

Charles  W.  Evans, 

300.00 

Russell  H.  Heywood, 

300.00 

DeWitt  C.  Weed, 

300.00 

John  W.  Williams, 

300.00 

A.  Porter  Thompson, 

300.00 

Walter  Joy, 

300.00 

Amasa  Mason,  . 

200.00 

Reported  to  the  vestry  Octo- 
ber 4,  1S51 $2,000.00 

Am't  subscribed  in  this  way,    $10,100.00 


St.  Paul's  Church  Building  Fund  Association,  commonly  known  as 
the  Young  Men's  Fund,  although  many  women  of  the  parish  were 
among  the  subscribers,  was  organized  October  24,  1847,  and,  therefore, 
preceded  the  foregoing  subscriptions.  The  subscribers  to  this  fund 
agreed  that  it  should  be  paid  over  to  the  vestry  when  the  vestry 
should  have  raised  ten  thousand  dollars  towards  building  the  new  St. 
Paul's.  This  fund  was  paid  over  to  the  vestry  in  the  year  1850.  The 
total  amount  contributed  to  the  fund  was  $1,372.65,  in  small  sums 
averaging  about  $5.00.  In  January,  1848,  the  young  ladies  of  the 
parish  also  formed  their  association  for  the  same  object.  (See  note 
foot  of  page  58  ) 


Subscription   Lists. 


431 


Subscriptions  towards  the  completion  of  the  church  edifice,  main 
tower,  porches,  Sunday  School  room,  etc.,  dated  January  11,  1854  : 


Louisa  M.  Weed, 

$1,500.00 

Benjamin  Bradley, 

$500.00 

DeWitt  C.  Weed, 

1,500.00 

Lydia  Pomeroy,    . 

300.00 

A.  I.  Mathews, 

1,000.00 

N.  H.  Warner,     . 

150.00 

Thomas  Savage,    . 

150.00 

B.  C.  Caryl,     .     . 

150.00 

John  L.  Kimberly, 

1,500.00 

A.  P.  Nichols,       . 

100.00 

Joseph  Stringham, 

200.00 

S   G.  Cornell, 

50.00 

William  Shelton,   . 

500.00 

Henry  Hagar, 

400.00 

Elijah  Ford,     . 

1,000.00 

Charles  D.  Gibson, 

50.00 

Matthew  Wilson, 

100.00 

John  T.  Lacy, 

100.00 

Charles  W.  Evans, 

600.00 

George  Truscott, 

150.00 

John  Pease, 

300.00 

Sidney  Shepard,    . 

100.00 

Asa  E.  Hart,   . 

300.00 

William  Sutton,     . 

200.00 

Stephen  Walker, 

250  00 

C.  C.  Wyckoff,     . 

100.00 

Sylvia  Chapin, 

50  00 

Walter  W.  Stanard, 

100.00 

Amasa  Mason, 

500.00 

Elizabeth  L.  Gwinn. 

15.00 

Sevilla  B.  Hayden, 

200.00 

S.  M.  Chamberlain, 

100.00 

H.  S.  Chamberlain, 

200  00 

I.  Chamberlain,     . 

2500 

Lester  Brace,    . 

250.00 

B.  F.  Greene,  . 

250.00 

Philander  Hodge, 

100.00 

George  N.  Burwell, 

250.00 

Curtiss  L.  Brace,  . 

200.00 

Samuel  D.  Flagg, 

400.00 

S.  H.  Grosvenor, 

100.00 

G.  F.  Pratt,      .     . 

100.00 

John  S.  Ganson,  . 

500.00 

A.  Porter  Thompson 

, 

1,000.00 

George  E.  Hayes, 

500.00 

R.  H.  Heywood, 

2,000.00 

E.  S.  Warren, 
Agnes  Warren, 

600.00 

Jacob  A.  Barker, 

300.00 

500.00 

*T~        .~~ 

To  be  added  to  these  is  a  subscription  of  $265  (^50)  from  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Bowdler  of  London,  England,  included  in  the  report  of 
the  building  committee,  April  5,  1855.     (See  page  270.) 

Also,  the  proceeds  of  the  "  Young  Ladies'  Fair,"  held  in  February, 
1854.     (See  page  80.) 

For  subscriptions  reported  July,  1S56  ($6,600),  see  page  84. 


432 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 


Subscriptions  for  completing  the  main  spire,  crosses  and  finials  of 
the  church,  interior  improvements,  etc.,  and  also  to  discharge  a  debt  of 
$3,500  upon  the  rectory. 

Dated  September  19,  1866. 


William  Shelton,  .     .     . 

DeWitt  C.  Weed,       .     . 

Wm.  H.  Walker,       .     . 

Mrs.  Caroline  Sanford,  . 

Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Duff,    . 

Louisa  M.  Weed,      .     . 

Lord  Bishop  of  Gibraltar, 

Ezekiel  Birdseye, 

Charles  W.  Evans, 

James  Sweeney,     .      .    $  5° 

Wm.  B.  Depew,   .     .        50 

John  S.  Ganson,  .  .   400 

John  T.  Lacy, 

Asher  P.  Nichols, 

Hobart  Weed, 

H.  C.  Squier,  . 

Henry  Shelton  Sanford, 

S.  G.  Cornell,     ) 

S.   D.   Cornell,    1 

Nelson  Willard, 

Claud  Hamilton, 

L.  C.  Woodruff, 

Tohn  Pease,     . 

John  Pease,  Jr., 

James  Pease,    . 

E.  B.  Seymour, 

Henry  T.  Gillet, 

J.  B.  Dubois,   . 

Wm.  Squires,  . 

Geo.  E.  Hayes, 

G.  F.  Pratt,      . 

James  M.  Weed, 


$2,000.00 

1,000.00 

1,000.00 

5-0O 

7.00 

300.00 

10.00 

10.00 

600.00 

500.00 

500.00 
500.00 
200.00 
200.00 
500.00 

2,000.00 

50.00 

25.00 

2,000.00 

100.00 

50.00 

10.00 

300.00 

100.00 

100.00 

30.00 

300.00 

100.00 

25.00 


Geo.  H.  Bryant,  . 
Thos.  C.  Pitkin,  . 
Thos.  H.  Pitkin,  . 
George  N.  Burwell, 
Clark  B.  Lacy, 
John  T.  Lacy,  Jr., 
Wm.  Lacy, 
A.  A.  Gillet,     .     . 
Philo  DuBois,  .     . 
Matthew  O'Neill, 
Geo.  W.  Wallace, 
George  L.  Burns, 
Laetitia  P.  Viele, 
Jane  Wey  Grosvenor 
Edward  Kimberly, 
John  L.  Kimberly, 
James  W.  Brown, 
Thomas  Hickman, 
S.  Squier,    .     .     . 
J.  B.  Bull,  .     .     . 
Thomas  F.  Rochester, 
Curtiss  L.  Brace, 
James  F.  Demarest, 
Asa  E.  Hart,   .     . 
Henry  Bull,     .     . 

0.  H.  P.  Champlin, 

1.  T.  Hatch,    .     . 
John  B.  Seymour, 
Mrs.  Amelia  Chapin  Picked 
Mrs.  Harriet  F.  Tracy, 
James  Patterson,  .     . 
Chas.  J.  Hubbard,    . 


ng 


$200.00 

100.00 

50.00 

300. 00 

25.00 

25.00 

25.00 

50.00 

100.00 

20.00 

25.00 

50.00 

400.00 

25.00 

100.00 

300.00 

500.00 

5-00 

250.00 

200.00 

350.00 

100.00 

50.00 

100.00 

100.00 

18.00 

100.00 

25.00 

50.00 

500.00 

roo.oo 

50.00 

$16,815.00 


The  subscription  of  the  Bishop  of  Gibraltar,  included  in  above  list, 
was  a  piece  of  gold,  which  he  requested  should  be  used  to  pay  for 
"a  stone  in  St.  Paul's." 


Subscription  Lists.  433 

It  was  handed  to  Dr.  Shelton  in  Naples,  Italy,  while  he  was  the 
bishop's  guest,  in  October,  1864.  Dr.  Shelton  mentions  the  gift  in  his 
European  Diary  ;  and  in  a  note,  appended  to  a  historical  sermon, 
delivered  by  him  February  19,  1867,  and  afterwards  published,  he  says  : 
"When  the  steeple  is  complete  there  will  be  a  stone  in  it  with  the 
initials  of  the  See  and  the  name  of  the  donor." 

According  to  English  authorities,  the  Right  Reverend  Walter  John 
Trower,  D.  D.,  was  Bishop  of  Glasgow  and  Galloway  from  1848  until 
his  resignation  in  1859.  After  officiating  for  a  time  as  sub-dean  of 
Exeter  Cathedral,  he  became  in  1863  the  second  Bishop  of  Gibraltar, 
resigning  that  See  in  1868.  From  187 1  until  his  death,  October  24, 
1877,  he  was  rector  of  Ashington,  Sussex.  Bishop  Trower  was  the 
author  of  a  number  of  works  relating  to  the  Church.  Bishop  C.  A. 
Harris  succeeded  him  in  the  See  of  Gibraltar  in  186S.     (See  page  318.) 


Subscriptions  for  completing  the  church,  etc. 
Dated  April  5,  1869. 

William  Shelton, $1,000.00   |    Agnes  Warren, $200.00 

Samuel  G.  Cornell,    ....     1,000.00       Miss  Wells, 2.00 

William  H.  Walker,       .     .     .      1,000.00       Nelson  VVillard, 20.00 

A.  P.  Thompson,       ....     1,000.00       Asa  E.  Hart 100.00 


L.  C.  Woodruff, 1,000.00 

Rt.  Rev.  Arthur  Cleveland  Coxe,      100.00 
DeWitt  C.  Weed 500.00 


Fred.  W.  Newbould,  .     .         100.00 

James  Sweeney 100.00 

Edward  C.  Walker 5.00 


Cyrus  Clarke, 500.00  Mrs.  John  L.  Kimberly,     .     .  50.00 

John  T.  Lacy 500.00  Geo.  II.  Bryant 100.00 

Charles  W.  Evans 300.00  John  B.  Hurray, 100.00 

E.  B.  Seymour, 100.00  Elizabeth  McKee 50.00 


II.  C.  Squier, 100.00 


$7,927.00 


434 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 


Subscriptions  for  building  the  spire  of  small  tower,  stone  crosses, 
finials,  etc. 

Dated  May  23,  1871. 

William  Shelton, §100.00 

Cyrus  Clarke,  .... 
Henry  T.  Gillet,  .     .     . 

M.  B.  Moore 

H.  H.  Baker,  .... 
Charles  W.  Evans,  .  . 
John  T.  Lacy,      .     .     . 


$100.00 

Geo.  H.  Bryant,   . 

.     .      $100.00 

100.00 

DeWitt  C.  Weed,      .     . 

100.00 

100.00 

Geo.  W.  Smith,    .     .     . 

.     .           50.00 

50.00 

Wm.  H.  Walker,       .     . 

.     .         100.00 

50.00 

J.  N.  Dorris,    .... 

100.00 

100.00 

L   C.  Woodruff,  .     .     . 

.     .         100.00 

50.00 

C.  C.  Wyckoff,     .     .     . 

.     .          50.00 

$1,150.00 

For  subscription,  187S-18S1,  amounting  to  $12,928.81,  to  defray 
certain  indebtedness  of  the  parish,  see  pages  131,  132. 

For  the  subscription,  amounting  to  over  $60,000.00,  for  rebuilding 
the  church  after  the  fire  of  1888,  see  page  176. 

For  subscription,  1895,  for  new  rectory,  see  page  200. 


SUBSCRIBERS    TO    THE    PARISH    HOUSE    BUILDING    FUND,    1896. 

H.    C. 


William    II.  Walker, 
Mrs.  Agnes  L.  Warren, 
Mrs.  Laetitia  P.  Viele, 
A.   Porter  Thompson, 
Mr.     and       Mrs.      Edmund 

Hayes, 
Miss  Amelia  Stevenson, 
Mrs.  Charles  W.  Evans, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Swee- 
ney, 
James  Sweeney,  Jr., 
Miss  Louisa  Weed  Sweeney, 
Mrs.  George  E.  Hayes, 
Mrs.  Jane  W.  Grosvenor, 
Mi>s  Lucretia  S.  <  Imsvenor, 


Miss  Abby  W.  Grosvenor, 
Mr.   and  Mrs.   William    H. 

Glenny, 
S.  Douglas  Cornell, 
Mrs.  Grace  A.  Grant, 
James  R.  Smith, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  H.  Hutch- 
inson, 
James  M.  Smith, 
Mr.   and    Mrs.    Sheldon   T. 

Viele, 
Mrs.  Catherine  Cottier, 
Miss  M.  Elizabeth  Cottier, 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  R,  Hop- 
kins, 


Mr.    and  Mrs.    H.    C.    liar 
rower, 

Miss    Katherine     G.     nar- 
rower, 

Charles  R.  Wilson, 

Miss  Esther  Glenny, 

W.   1 1  any  Glenny, 

I  lobart  Weed, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edward  Ben- 
nett, 

Miss  Keturah  B.  Greene, 

Mr.    and    Mrs.    William   V. 
Warren, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.    Frederick  B. 
Robins, 


Subscription  Lists. 


435 


Mrs.  Robert  P.  Wilson, 

Mrs.  Mary  H.  Lee, 

Dr.    and  Mrs.    Matthew  D. 

Mann, 
Mr.    and    Mrs.    O.    H.     P. 

Champlin, 
Miss  Carrie  M.  Champlin, 
Mr.    and  Mrs.   Howard  H. 

Baker, 
Miss  Helen  L.  Baker, 
Howard  A.  Baker, 
George  H.  Baker, 
Mr.    and   Mrs.    William  A. 

Joyce, 
John  D.  Smith  Company, 
Edward  C.  Walker, 
Mr.    and    Mrs.    Edward  S. 

Warren, 
Derrick  B.  Warren, 
Mrs.  Laetitia   V.    W.    Has- 

brouck, 
T.  D.  Sheridan, 
Miss  Elizabeth  A.  McKee, 
John  Pease, 
Miss  Sarah  M.  Pease, 
Robert  Ferguson, 
Miss  Eliza  Gorman, 
Miss  Mary  Gorman, 
Miss  Nancy  Gorman, 
Miss  Jane  Gorman, 
Mr.    and   Mrs.    William   II. 

Faxon, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.    S.   D.  Cald- 
well, 
Mr.   and   Mrs.  Walter  Dev- 

ereux, 
Thos.  S.  King, 
John  T.  Gard's  family, 
Sheldon  Thompson, 


Dr.  and  Mrs.  G.  Hunter 
Bartlett, 

Miss  Virginia  Evans  Bart- 
lett, 

Evans  Ellicott  Bartlett, 

Merritt  F.  Cook, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  O.  H.  Perry 
Champlin,  Jr., 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oliver  H.  P. 
Champlin,  2d, 

Herbert  H.  Embry, 

H.  J.  Warren, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  A.  Barton, 

George  Alfred  Stringer, 

William  J.  Wolfe, 

Mrs.  Amelia  H.  Lee, 

Amelia  H.  Lee,  2d, 

Mrs.  Ann  M.  Ganson, 

Miss  Katharine  H.  Bristol, 

Mrs.  Ann  J.  Rose, 

Mrs.  Mary  Carlisle  Dames, 

Francis  C.  Dames, 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  S.  Mendsen, 

Miss  Jennette  White, 

Jerome  Brandon  Richmond, 

Miss  Margaret  Brandon 
Richmond, 

Miss  Grace  Montague  Rich- 
mond, 

Miss  Grace  Viele, 

Dorr  Viele, 

Miss  Anna  Viele, 

Miss  Laetitia  Viele, 

Sheldon  K.  Viele, 

Mrs.  Margaret  L.  Larke, 

Mrs.  Maria  P.  Vosburgh, 

Matthew  O'Neill, 

Miss  Alice  J.  Thompson, 

Mrs.  Jennie  M.  H.  Barton, 


Fred.  H.  Barton, 

Theodore  Vosburgh, 

C.  N.  Riggs, 

Carleton  Greene, 

Dr.  Bernard  Bartow, 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  F.  Park  Lewis, 

Charles  W.  Hinson, 

Miss  Sarah  M.  Hinson, 

Miss  Annie  Currie, 

Mrs.  Thomas  King  Mann, 

Mrs.  Martin  Lautz, 

Mrs.  H.  Smith, 

Mr.    and  Mrs.    Charles    E. 
Marvin, 

Mrs.  Oliver  Watson, 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  F.  W.  Abbott, 

Mrs.  Rebecca  N.  Hall, 

Henry  Bull, 

Henry  Adsit  Bull, 

Mrs.  E.  F.  Meister, 

Mrs.  L.  Broad, 

Mrs.  E.  C.  W.  O'Brien, 

Mrs.  Anna  Berry, 

Mrs.  Fanny  A.  Bull, 

W.  S.  Tremaine, 

Mrs.  John  L.  Crosthwaite, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.    H.   R.    How- 
land, 

Mrs.  Charles  R.  Walker, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stephen 
Walker, 

J.  Tillinghast, 

Miss  Carrie  E.  B.  Neill, 

Dr.  Thomas  Lothrop, 

Mrs.  L.  M.  Diehl, 

Mrs.  L.  J.  Pope, 

Miss  Julia  M.  Pfeiffer, 

F.  H.  Blackmon, 

N.  Orsini  de  Bock. 


436 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 


J.  C.  Milsom, 
Miss  Ethel  Mann. 
Mrs.  M.  W.  Graham, 
Wm.  Warren  Smith, 
Mrs.  William  T.  Miller, 
Miss    Genevieve    E.     Mor- 
row, 
Miss  E.  Maude  Morrow, 
Miss  Mary  L.  Raiber, 
Mrs.  K.  R.  Willett, 
Miss  M.  Westcott, 
Mrs.  Jane  Andrews, 
Mrs.  Geo.  P.  Germain, 
Mrs.  Schenkelberger, 
Miss  Alice  Schenkelberger, 
Mrs.  E.  L.  Baker, 
Miss  C.  Anna  Williams, 
Mrs.  A.  D.  Gail, 
Miss  R.  J.  Gardner, 
Miss  Mary  F.  Houghton, 
Miss  Alice  M.  Hopkins, 
Chauncey  Depew, 
Mrs.  Wm.  B.  Depew, 
Mrs.  C.  K.  Harrington, 
Miss  Adelaide  M.  Wilson, 
Mrs.  Annie  M.  Mitchell, 
Miss  Lillian  R.  Richmond, 
J.  R.  H.  Richmond, 
Mrs.  Rosalie  H.  Wright, 
Mrs.  Maria  G.  Atwater, 
Miss  Julia  Atwater, 
Mr.    and    Mrs.    W.    T.    At- 
water, 
Miss  Alice   Hopkins, 
Miss  Helen  Hopkins, 
Miss  Frances  Eldred, 
Miss  Mabel  Wright, 
Miss  Florence  Adsit, 
George  C.  Greene, 


Dr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  C.  Cor- 
nell, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  I.  Dorr, 

Mrs.  Mary  E.  Stimpson, 

Charley  Stimpson, 

Howard  Wade, 

Mrs.  Evelyn  S.  P.  Dorr, 

Mrs.  Allen  Jones, 

Miss  Adelaide  K.  Rich- 
mond, 

Mrs.  Nelson  White, 

Miss  Mary  N.  Dorr, 

R.  J.  Bennett, 

Jack  Green, 

Geo.  E.  Messer,  Jr., 

Sheldon  Burt, 

Gertrude  Cashmore, 

Frank  Cashmore, 

Ida  Cashmore, 

Bessie  Cashmore, 

C.  M.  Cashmore, 

Hattie  J.  Mason, 

Florence  L.  Masten, 

Mary  L.  Hampton, 

Florence  Taylor  Smith, 

George  A.  Clark, 

Miss  Carroll, 

Anna  H.  Squibb, 

Mrs.  Hobart  Weed, 

Walter  I.  Weed, 

Shelton  Weed, 

Miss  Martha  W.  Hutchin- 
son, 

Mrs.  John  C.  Devereux, 

John  A.  Devereux, 

John  H.  Cooper, 

James  A.  Hawley, 

William  Wippert, 

Mrs.  Woolley, 


Mr.     and     Mrs.     Philip     S. 

Smith, 
Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Bryant, 
Mrs.  John  L.  Bryant, 
Miss  Sarah  E.  Bryant, 
Miss  Carrie  C.  Reitz, 
Miss  Bessie  S.  Cooper, 
Mrs.  F.  K.  Vine, 
Miss  M.  Hunter, 
Miss  Elizabeth  Brinkmann, 
Miss  Mary  Graham  Tucker, 
Miss  Emma  McDonald, 
Mrs.  F.  McDonald, 
Mrs.  M.  L.  Sutphin, 
Mrs.  Fanny  E.  Harris, 
Misses  Persch, 
Miss   Gertrude    B.   Spauld- 

ing. 
S.  M.  Dewey, 
Paul  Carris, 
Carrie  P.  Whalen, 
Miss  Gertrude  L.  House, 
M.  Belle  King, 
Anna  M.  Rings, 
Minnie  M.  Rings, 
A.  Eliza  Hamilton, 
Mrs.  John  Coit, 
Mrs.  Charles  H.  Cushman, 
Mary  Carter, 
Mr.    and    Mrs.    William    B. 

Gallagher, 
Mrs.  Streater  and  daughters, 
Mrs.  Julia  W.  Smith, 
Mrs.   M.  A.  Crockett, 
Mrs.  Frances  R.  Hunsicker, 
Miss  S.  E.  Kimberly, 
Miss  Charlotte  Kimberly 
Mrs.  Dewitt  C.  Weed, 
George  T.  Weed, 


Subscription  Lists. 


437 


Mr.    and    Mrs.    Edward    L. 

Kimberly, 
Miss  Louise  Kimberly, 
Miss  Kate  S.  Weed, 


Miss  Edith  K.  Weed, 
M.  K.  Lewis, 
Robert  Palen, 
George  T.  Ballachey, 


Total  amount  ot  subscriptions,  .f  20,730.61. 


Edward  J.  Prehn, 
W.  A.  Hawley, 
Frank  Gedies, 
A.  L.  Jones. 


SUBSCRIBERS    TO    THE    FUND    FOR    PAYING    OFF    THE    MORTGAGE    ON    THE 

NEW    PARISH    HOUSE,    THE    FLOATING    INDEBTEDNESS 

OF    ST.    PAUL'S,    ETC.,     I9OO-I902. 


William  H.  Walker, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edmund 
Hayes, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  H.  Hutch- 
inson, 

Mrs.  J.  M.  Richmond  and 
family, 

Miss  Amelia  Stevenson, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hobart  Weed, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Philip  S. 
Smith, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Win.  V.  War- 
ren, 

Mrs.  Robert  P.  Wilson, 

Charles  R.  Wilson, 

A.  P.  Thompson, 

Mrs.  Charles  W.  Evans, 

Mrs.  Geo.  E.  Hayes, 

James  R.  Smith, 

Mrs.  P.  P.  Burtis, 

Miss  Susan  E.  Kimberly, 

Dr.  Thos.  Lothrop, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  Douglas 
Cornell, 

Miss  L.  S.  Grosvenor, 

Miss  A.  W.  Grosvenor, 


W.  H.  Glenny, 

Mrs.  Lucy  H.  Weed, 

George  T.  Weed, 

Miss  Kate  S.  Weed, 

Miss  Edith  Weed, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wm.  R. 
Joyce, 

James  Sweeney, 

Dr.  Henry  Reed  Hopkins, 

H.  C.  Harrower, 

Miss  Katherine  G.  Har- 
rower, 

Mrs.  Edward  Bennett, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  S.  Warren, 

Mrs.  Julia  W.  Smith, 

Wm.  Warren  Smith, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wm.  H.  Fax- 
on, 

Robert  Palen, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marshall  J. 
Root, 

Shelton  Weed, 

Howard  H.  Baker, 

Walter  I.  Weed, 

Mrs.  Mary  H.  Lee, 

John  K.  Walker, 


Mr.  ami  Mrs.  Geo.  H.  Har- 
rower, 

Miss  Catherine  McVickar, 

Mr.    and  Mrs.    Sheldon  T. 
Viele, 

Geo.  C.  Greene. 

Mr.  and   Mrs.    Howard  A. 
Forman, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wm.  B.  Gal- 
lagher, 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Alexander  M. 
Curtiss, 

Mis.  Alice  O.  Mann. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  C.  Nagel, 

John  H.  Cooper, 

Wm.  H.  Walker,  Jr., 

Mrs.  J.  C.  Devereux, 

Mr.     and     Mrs.     John     H. 
Baker, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wm.  T.  At- 
water, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ganson  Depew, 

Dr.  F.  Park  Lewis, 

Mrs.  J.  H.  Lee, 

DeWitt  Clinton, 

Mrs.  Streater  and  daughters, 


438 


History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 


Henry  English, 
Edward  F.  Meister, 
Stephen  Walker, 
John  M.  Provoost, 
Walter  Devereux,  Jr., 
Maxwell  S.  Wheeler, 
Mrs.  C.  J.  Fisher, 
Miss  Virginia  Evans  Bart- 

lett, 
Evans  Ellicott  Bartlett, 
Mrs.  Thomas  Rose, 
E.  Corning  Townsend, 
Miss  Grace  E.  Meredith, 
Miss  Anna  M.  Rings, 
George  Stevenson  Fenton, 
Miss  Emma  U.  Sears, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.   Henry   Adsit 

Bull, 
Lester  Wheeler, 
Miss  Elizabeth  Brinkmann, 
Geo.  T.  Ballachey, 
Miss  Julie  M.  Pfeiffer, 
Mrs.  Kate  Cottier, 
Wm,  A.   Faxon, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Louis  Bret 

Hart, 
Sheldon  Thompson, 
( 1.  Frederick  Ogilvie, 
J.  Sweeney,  Jr., 
Mrs.  Norman  E.  Mack, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  R.  How- 
land, 
Norman  Rogers, 
George  A.  Clark, 
S.  G.   Walker, 
Mrs.  J.   II.  Dames, 
Sullivan  A.  Meredith, 
The  Misses  Persch, 
Mrs.  Sue  C.  Perkins, 


Miss  Sabin  Perkins, 
Mrs.  M.  A.  Crockett, 
Mrs.  R.  S.   Smithwick, 
W'm.  J.  Wolfe, 
Lorenzo  Harris, 
Miss  M.  C.  Lovering, 
Robert  M.  Codd,  Jr., 
Miss  Gertrude  Lee  House, 
Mrs.  Alice  A.  Howard, 
Miss  Marjorie  Howard, 
Mrs.  W.  S.  Sizer, 
Dr.  M.  D.  Mann, 
William  Wippert, 
Miss  Adeline  Campbell, 
Mrs.  A.  D.  Stewart, 
Miss  Eva  E.  Rugg, 
Miss  Ida  J.  Stickney, 
Miss  Emma  J.  Thomas, 
Clarence  D.  Rogers, 
Mrs.  Howard  J.  Vigrass, 
Miss  Ruth  E.  Isaacs, 
Byron  M.  Tuttle, 
Miss  Florence  M.  Filstead, 
Mrs.  William  Spears, 
Miss  E.  Maude  Morrow, 
Miss  Genevieve  E.  Morrow. 
Miss  M.  Belle  King, 
Mrs.  Mary  Shenkelberger, 
Miss  Alice   A.    Shenkelber- 
ger, 
Miss  C.  Anna  Williams, 
Miss  Julia  K.  Klein, 
Miss  Emma  Klein, 
Miss  Ida  M.  Klein, 
Miss  Bertha  Klein, 
Mrs.  Frank  Burt, 
Dr.  Fred.  A.  Ballachey, 
Mrs.  Jemima  Jones, 
Miss  Mary  E.  Tench, 


Louis  N.  Smith, 

James  Hornibrook, 

John  Reitz, 

Miss  Fannie  Harris, 

Miss  Sarah  M.  Hinson, 

Howard  A.  Baker, 

George  A.  Baker, 

Mrs.  Alfred  Campbell, 

Mrs.  E.  S.  Traenkle, 

A.  S.  Traenkle. 

G.  R.  Traenkle, 

Estate  of  Dr.  F.  W.  Abbott, 

W.  L.  Moffat, 

Mrs.  John  D.  Larkin, 

Mrs.  Louisa  E.  Fowler, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.    Charles  Tal- 

boys  and  children, 
Joseph  S.  Abbs, 
Mrs.  J.  J.  Huber, 
Mrs.  L.  M.  Burgstahler, 
Miss  Georgia  M.  Filstead, 
Miss  Ella  M.  Wall, 
Mrs.  Jane  A.  Andrews, 
Mrs.  Kate  Kee  Knowles, 
Mrs.  E.  C.  W.  O'Brien, 
Mr.    and    Mrs.    Charles    E. 

Marvin, 
Mr.  and   Mrs.   John   G.    II. 

Marvin, 
Miss  Eunice  Henderson, 
Mrs.  Ashley  Smith, 
Miss  Louise  De  Langie, 
Miss  Mary  E.  Walker, 
Mrs.  Margaret  I..   I.arke, 
Mrs.  A.  I).  Gail, 
Mrs.  ( Hfford  Morgan, 
Mrs.  Catherine  Dixon, 
Charles  Wood, 
1..  (1.  Sellstedt, 


Subscription  Lists. 


439 


Miss  Sarah  M.  Pease, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  A.  Barton, 
Miss  Julia  Atwater, 
Miss  Mary  F.  Houghton, 
Miss    Katherine    M.    Hurl- 
burt, 


Mr.     and     Mrs.     Frank     I. 

Dorr, 
Mrs.  Harriet  Smith, 
Dr.     and    Mrs.      Allen     A. 

Jones, 
George  Alfred  Stringer, 


Total  amount,  $28,813.75. 


Dr.  and   Mrs.  Bernard  Bar- 
tow, 
Mrs.  Lucy  Broad, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  S.  Mendsen, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  F.  Whalen, 
Miss  E.  L.  Small. 


The  above  subscription  has  freed  the  parish  of  St.  Paul's  from  debt, 
with  the  exception  of  the  balance  due  on  the  rectory  in  Johnson's  Park. 
(See  pages  200,  241,  243.) 


44°  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

1ht  Conclusion. 

In  the  great  increase  of  Buffalo,  and  its  growth  northward,  St. 
Paul's  has  been  left  alone,  stranded  as  it  were  in  the  heart  of  the 
business  portion  of  the  city.  The  "daughter  churches,"  Trinity  and 
St.  John's,  have  followed  their  parishioners  up-town.  Trinity,  first,  hav- 
ing removed  from  the  old  building  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Wash- 
ington and  Mohawk  streets  into  the  beautiful  brown-stone  church 
edifice  on  the  east  side  of  Delaware  Avenue  between  Tupper  and 
Edward  streets.  The  members  of  St.  John's  some  time  ago  sold 
the  old  church  property  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Washington  and 
Swan  streets,  and  have  built  a  new  grey-stone  chapel  on  the  north- 
east corner  of  Lafayette  Avenue  and  Bidwell  Parkway,  which  was 
opened  by  the  bishop,  November  5,  1893.  They  hope  to  build  a  large 
church  there  in  the  near  future. 

The  old  First  Presbyterian  Church,  which  was  for  so  many  years  the 
neighbor  of  St.  Paul's  on  the  opposite  lot,  between  Niagara  and 
Church  streets,  and  which,  with  St.  Paul's,  gave  the  name  of  "  the 
churches"  to  that  portion  of  Main  Street,  has  disappeared,  and  in  its 
place  stands  the  lofty  and  imposing  gray-stone  building  of  the  Erie 
County  Savings  Bank.  The  First  Church  congregation  now  worships 
in  its  stately  brown-stone  edifice  on  The  Circle. 

St.  Paul's  alone  remains  the  same  ;  the  same  massive,  brown-stone 
walls,  the  same  graceful,  tapering  spire,  with  its  gilded  cross,  losing 
itself  in  the  clouds.  The  triangular  block  of  ground  which  it  occupies 
seems  also  little  changed,  with  its  high  iron  fence,  and  grass-covered 
space  within,  making  a  pleasant  spot  in  the  midst  of  the  dusty,  busy 
city.  And  yet,  so  much  have  the  surroundings  changed,  and  so  dif- 
ferent seems  the  life  of  the  streets  around  it,  that  even  "  Dr.  Shelton's 
St.  Paul's  "  seems  a  thing  of  the  distant  past,  and  it  is  almost  impossi- 
ble for  the  oldest  parishioners  to  call  up  a  mental  vision  of  the  little 
frame  church,  which  stood  long  ago  on  the  same  spot,  with  the  foot- 
paths leading  to  it  from  the  surrounding  village  streets. 


ST.    PAULS     AND     ITS     ENVIRONMENT,  November,  1902.     (See  pages  174,  219,  220,  261.) 
Photographs  by  G.  H.  B, 


/;/    Conclusion.  441 

Buffalo  from  a  tiny  village  has  grown  into  a  great,  thriving,  and  pros- 
perous city,  the  population  in  1903  being  about  400,000  ;  and  the  parish 
of  St.  Paul's  has  grown  with  it.  As  we  think  of  the  small  beginnings, 
comparing  them  with  the  present  prosperity,  and  look  forward  to  the 
great  work  which  St.  Paul's  has  yet  to  do  in  the  future  of  this  rapidly- 
growing  city,  the  words  from  Isaiah,  which  Dr.  Shelton  used  as  the 
text  for  his  farewell  sermon,  in  the  old  frame  edifice,  March  17, 
1850,  come  to  us  with  ever  greater  force, —  truly,  "A  little  one  shall 
become  a  thousand,  and  a  small  one  a  strong  nation." 

"  For  not  like  kingdoms  of  the  world 

The  holy  Church  of  God  ! 
Though  earthquake-shocks  be  rocking  it, 

And  tempest  is  abroad  ; 
Unshaken  as  eternal  hills, 

Unmovable  it  stands, 
A  mountain  that  shall  fill  the  earth, 

A  fane  unbuilt  by  hands. 

"  Though  years  fling  ivy  over  it, 

Its  cross  peers  high  in  air, 
And  reverend  with  majestic  age, 

Eternal  youth  is  there  ! 
Oh  mark  her  holy  battlements, 

And  her  foundations  strong  ; 
And  hear,  within,  her  ceaseless  voice, 

And  her  unending  song  ! 

"  Oh  ye,  that  in  these  latter  days 
The  citadel  defend. 
Perchance  for  you,  the  Saviour  said 

I'm  with  you  —  to  the  end  ; 
Stand,  therefore,  girt  about,  and  hold 

Your  burning  lamps  in  hand, 

And  standing,  listen  for  your  Lord, 

And  till  He  cometh  —  stand  !  " 

—From  "Chelsea,"  by  Bishop  Coxe. 


If  nbej. 


IFnbey. 


To  avoid  unnecessary  repetition,  the  separate  names  in  the  following 
lists  have  not  been  indexed  : 

List  of  Wardens  and  Vestrymen,  1817-1903, Pages  397  to  420. 

Subscription  Lists, Pages  426  to  439. 


The  Table  of  Contents  and  List  of  Illustrations  will  be  found  at  front  of  volume. 


Aaron,    Rev.    Dr.   Israel   (gives  use  of  the 
Temple  Beth  Zion  to  St.  Paul's  after  fire 
of  18S8),   1G8,   190. 
Abbott,  Dr.   and  Mrs.   Frank  W.,  177,  256, 

256. 
Abbott,  Dr.  Prank  W.,  193. 
Obituary,  256. 
Memorial  to,   256,   262,  292. 
Abbott,  Frank  Wayne,  Jr.,  231,  246. 
Adam,  Carl,  343. 
Adams,    John,    Ex-President   U.    S.,    death 

of  (1826),  services  at  St.  Paul's,  28. 
Adams,  Lawson,  316. 

Adams,    Rev.    Henry    A.,    Seventh    Rector 
(1889),  180,  183,  190,  351,  360  (Clergy  List), 
396. 
Resignation,  191. 
Short  Account  of,  192. 
Advent,    Monday    (new  day  of  election  of 

Vestry,  1896),  202,  213. 
Aiken,  David  D.,  26. 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  17,  27,  170,  257,  265,  425. 
Aldermen,  Board  of,  Resolutions  in  regard 

to  Shelton  Square,  219,  220. 
Allen,  Miss  Amanda,  326. 
Allen,  Carlyle  T., 

In  Buffalo,  1829,  42. 
Died,  1902,  42. 
Allen  family,  385. 
Allen,  George  W.,  42,  55. 
Allen,  Hon.  Lewis  F., 

Reference  to  letter,  169. 
Quotation  from  his  paper  on  "  City  of 
Ararat''      in     regard     to     Rev.      Mr. 
Searle,    363. 
Extracts   from  his  letter  in   regard  to 
"City   of   Ararat,"   366,    367,    368,    369. 
He  knew  Dr.  Shelton  in  1829,  374. 
His     article    on   "Cholera   in   Buffalo" 
(1832),   376. 


to 


Allen,  William  K.,  131. 
All   Saints'  Church,   Buffalo,  184. 
Alms  Basin,  The, 
Saved  at  fire,  1C7. 
Description  of,  291. 
(Memorial  to  Mrs.  John  Pease.) 
Altar  (1850),  71. 
Altar,  The,  276,  277. 

Present    Altar    (1S89),    a    memorial 

Rev.  Dr.  Shelton,  278. 
Description  of,  279,  280,  281,  282. 
Resolutions  of  Vestry  for  Mrs.  Tracy's 
gift,     395     (see    Tracy,     Mrs.     Agnes 
Ethel). 
Altar   ("Crypt  Chapel"),  278,  296,  359. 
"Altar    and    the    Hearth"    (parish    paper; 

Quotations  from),  158,  159. 
Altar  cloths  and  altar  linen   (cabinet  for), 
270. 

Memorial  altar  cloth,  290. 
Committee  on,  248. 
Altar  Cross,  brass  (saved  at  fire), 
Description  and  history  of,  279, 
Altar     Cross,      memorial, 
Chapel,"  296. 
Altar  rail  (1850),  71. 
Altar  rail,  description  of,  276. 

Part  of  memorial  to  Dr.   Shelton,   287. 
Design  of,   394. 
Altar  rail  in  "Crypt  Chapel,"  old, 
Altar  Society,  248. 
Altar  Vases,  290. 
Alvord,    Elihu    (on    Organization 

1817),  9. 
Amsterdam   (Holland),  19,  29. 

(See  New  Amsterdam.) 
Anderson,  Miss,  337,  338,  342,  343. 
Ararat,    Citv    of,    (laying   of   corner    stone 
In    St.     Paul's,     1825),     27,    320,    363,    364, 
366,  367,   368,   369. 


167. 

280,  281. 
'Crypt 


278. 


Paper, 


445 


446 


Index. 


Archer,  Abel,  53. 

Architects  of  Saint  Paul's,  The,  421  to  426. 
Ascension,  Church  of  the,  Buffalo,  5S,  101, 
168. 

Choir,  184,  185,  207,  214,  338. 
Organized   (1855),  302. 
Ascension  Day,   1888   (St.   Paul's  destroyed 

by  flre),  165. 
"Ascension    Day,    1888"    (Poem    by     Edith 

Eaton),  166. 
Associate  Board,  Church  Home,  249. 
Association,  Building  Fund   (1S47),  58,  25S, 

430. 
Association,  Chime  Fund,  85,  258,  299,  301. 
Association,   St.   Paul's  Church  Bell-Ring- 
ing,   304,    305. 
Athearn,    Cyrus,   30,   35,   43. 

Vestryman,  31,  42,  43. 
Athearn  family,  385. 
Athletic  Association,  Boys',  248. 
Atwater,  Edward  M., 

Vestryman,  89. 
Atwater,  Mrs.  Edward  M.,  248. 
Atwater,    William    T.,    233. 
Austin,  Stephen  G.   (in  first  choir),  15,  25, 

319. 
"Authors  of  Buffalo,"  389. 
Babcock,  Rev.   Deodatus. 

Second  Rector  (1820),  19,  21,  22,  23,  24, 

141,  320,   357,  361,  362,  363. 
Clergy  List,  396. 
Badger,    George    (on    Organization    Paper, 

1817),  9,  10,  18,  141. 
Baird,  Miss,  387. 
Baker,  Everett  L.    (organist),  327,  328,   329, 

330. 
Baker,  Howard  A.,  233. 

Baker,   Howard   H.,   131,   145,   146,   176,   336, 
343,  384. 
Vestryman,   112,    114,   116,   117,   119,   122, 
123,   126,  130,  136,  139. 
Baker,  Mrs.  Howard  H.,  42. 
Baker,  John  Henry,  233. 
Baker,  Moses,  18. 
Ball,  Sheldon,  23,  24,  25,  26. 
Ballachey,  George  T.,  233,  246,  249. 
Baltimore,  Maryland,  98,  135,  172,  193,  207. 
Bank  of  England  and  St.   Paul's,  178,  385, 

386. 
Baptism   by   Immersion,    only   instance   in 

the  parish   (1825),  26. 
Baptismal   Shell    (memorial),  291. 
Baptistery,  265,  269,  270,  271,   L'T::. 

Description  of,  274,  275,  288. 
Barker,  Miss  Ella  D.,  323. 
Barker,  Jacob  A.   (on   Organization  Paper, 
1817),  9. 
Early  Choir,  15,  319. 
Vestryman,  23,  24,  26,  28,  30,  31,  35,  37, 

44,  45,  46,  47,  49,  50. 
Delegate    to    Convention    (1825),    26. 
On  Committee  to  procure  "Glebe  Lot," 
27,  29,  30. 


Barker,  lacob  A.— (Continued. ) 

On  Committee  for  Plans  (1836),  46. 
Building  Committee    (1849),   56. 
Building  Committee   (1S55),   81,  83,  101, 

391. 
Treasurer,  57,   62,  78. 
Death  (1859),  87. 
Vestry  Resolutions,  87. 
See,  also:    30,  43,  53,  54,  58,  141,  324,  377, 
385,  391. 
Barker,  Pierre  A.,  vestryman,  42,  43,  44,  45, 
46. 

Family,  385. 
Barker,  Miss  Sarah  A.,  329,  331. 
Barker,  Zenas,  385. 

Barker,   Zenas  W.    (in  first  congregation), 
10,  30,  43,  385. 
Vestryman,  42,  43,  44. 
Barnard,   Albert  J.,   135,   164,  176,   180,   340, 
343,  348,  352,  395. 

Vestryman,   126,   130,   136,   139,   153,   154, 
155,  157,  163,  175,  187,  188,  192,  196,  199, 
200,  202,  213,  223,  226,  228,  232,  241,  245, 
256. 
Chairman    Building    Committee    (1888), 
167,  171,  395. 
Barnard,   Mrs.   Albert  J.,  176. 
Barnard,    Miss   Florence,   248. 
Barnard,  Louis  J.,  340. 
Barnard,   Miss  M.,  249. 
Bartlett,  G.  Hunter,  145,  146,  233. 

Clerk  to  Vestry,   154,   155,  157,   163,  175, 

187,  189. 
Resigns,  192. 
Bartlett,  Mrs.  G.  Hunter  (Alice  M.  Evans), 

174,   181,   288. 
Bartley,    Noel,    246. 
Barton,  Benjamin,  64. 
Barton  Family,  64. 
Barton,    Frederick,    107. 
Barton,  James  L.,  54,  64,  113. 
Barton,   Mr.    (organist),  323. 
Barton,  Mrs.  Sarah  Maria,  113. 
Bartow,    Dr.    Bernard,   176. 
Batavia,  N.  Y.,  10,  11,  16,  29,  384. 
Beach,  Eben  (on  Organization  Paper,  1S17), 

9. 
Beach,  George,  322. 
Beats,  George,  vestryman,  111,  112,  114,  116, 

117. 
Beals,    John  W.,   43. 

Vestryman,  31,  37. 
Beare,  Charles  H.   (organist),  331,  332. 
Beebe,  S.  P.  (on  Organization  Paper,  1817) ,  9. 
Beers,  Anthony,   vestryman,  28,  30. 
Belfry  of  Great  Tower,  32,  165,  270,  299,  300, 
301,  306,  310,  311,  313,  315,  358. 

(See    "Great    Tower    and    Spire"    and 
"Bells.") 
Belfry  of  small  tower,  32  (see  Tower). 
Bells  of  St.  Paul's  (see  Chimes),  32,  85,  116, 
112.  145,   154,   166,  233,  248,  327,  357,  358. 
Account  of,  299  to  313. 


Index. 


447 


Bells  of  St.  Paul's.  —  (Continued.--' 

Quotation    from     "Christian    Ballads," 

299. 
Schedule  of  weights  and  tones,  300,  301. 
Inscriptions  on   (taken  direct  from  the 

bells),  302,  303. 
Old  bell  in  small  tower,   21,  27,  28,  32, 

59,  72,  142,  303,   357. 
Chimes  first  rung,  304,  358. 
Dr.  Shelton's  bequest  for  bells,  149,  304. 
Bell-ringing  Association,    304,    305,   306, 

307,  308,  309. 
Pealing,  304,  305,  300,  307,  308,  309. 
Dr.   Shelton's  interest  in  the  old  Bell- 
ringers  of  St.  Paul's,  305. 
Last  time  of  pealing  the  bells,   305. 
Chiming,   3U9  to   311. 
Mechanism    for   chiming,    309. 
Hammers,  309. 

Quotation  from  Tennyson,  309. 
Modern  Methods,  310. 
Framework  for  bells,  310. 
Carving  and  motto  in   Chimers'   room, 

310,  312. 
Bells  and  Poets,  308. 
A  snowy  Sunday  night,  313. 
"The  Spirit  of  the  Bells"  (poem  by  Al- 
len G.  Bigelow),  313. 
Names  of  the  Bells,  302,  303. 
Chimes  were     played    during   the  fire, 
166,   312. 
Bennett,   David  S.    (house),  199. 

(See   Rectory,    Johnson's    Park.) 
Bennett,    Edward,    176,   200. 
Bennett,   Mrs.   Edward,   200. 
Bennett,  Miss  M.  A.,  353,  355. 
Berkeley,  Bishop,  32. 
Berrick,  Charles,  171. 

Bible  (old)  presented  to  Mrs.   Shelton,  105. 
Bible  on  Lectern  in  "Crypt  Chapel,"  297. 
Bielby,  Rev.  C.  F.  A.,  137,  396. 
Bigdon,  John,  18. 
Bigelow,  Allen  G., 
Poem,  313. 
Choir,  343,  344. 
Bindemann,   F.   W.,   334. 
Bird,  William  A.,  64. 
Bird's-eye  View  of  Buffalo  from  the  spire 

(1870),  108. 
Birge,  Miss  M.  R.,  326. 
Bishop,   John,  305. 

Bishop's      Chair    (installed     1867,     burned 
1888),   103,   142,   359. 
Position  in  Chancel,  285. 
Present  Chair  installed  1889,  285,  395. 
Position  in  Chancel,  285. 
Bishop's  Residence,   purchased   (1865),  101, 

102. 
Bissell,  Bishop  (Vermont),  380. 
Bissell,   Miss  H.,   354. 

Black  Rock  (formerly  a  suburb  of  Buf- 
falo), 17,  18,  24,  26,  28,  42,  64,  111,  141, 
153,   228,  237,   384. 


Blodgett,    James    R.,    organist,     328,     330, 

331,   332. 
Blossom,  Ira  A.,  53,  54. 
Bock,  de,  N.  O.,  352. 
Bonney,  Miss  P.,  344. 

Book  of  Common  Prayer,  32,  41,  63,  119,  185. 
Book-rest  for  the  Altar,  290,  291. 
Books    for    Chancel    (memorial    to    Robert 

P.  Wilson),  236,  291. 
Booth,  G.  M.,  295. 
Boss,  Miss  S.  A.,  326. 
Boughton,  Guy  C,  352. 
Boughton,   Mrs.  William  H.,  353. 
Bowdler,   Rev.    Thomas,    of   London,   Eng- 
land, Memorial  window,     270;     subscrip- 
tion  (1S54),   431. 
Boy  Choirs,  329   (see  Choirs). 
Boys'  Club,  249. 
Boys  of  Choir,  345,  348. 
Brace,  Mrs.  Charlotte  A.,  296. 
Brace,  Curtiss  L.,  53,  296. 
Brace,  Frederick  Gelston  (memorial  Brass 

Altar  Cross  in  "Crypt  Chapel"),  296. 
Brace,   Lester,  53,  54,   63,  296,  322,   323. 
Vestryman,  23,  44,  45,  47,  48,  49,  50,  51, 

52,  56,  62,  65,  78. 
Warden,  79,  81,  83,  85,  86,  88,  89,  90,  93, 
99,    102,    104,    105,    106.      Resigns,    107. 
Death,  107,  111. 

Resolutions  of  Vestry,  111,  112. 
Brace  family,  64,  385. 
Bradley,  Benjamin,  vestryman,  78,  79. 
Brady,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  L.,  177. 
Brazzi,  Madame,  356. 
Brent,  Benjamin,  53. 
Brent,  Rev.  Charles  H. 
Assistant,  155,  396. 
Bishop  to  Philippines  (1901),  241,  242. 
Bridgeport,    Connecticut,    38,    40,    143,    144, 
149,  381,  382. 
Dr.  Shelton's  old  homestead  at,  14;.  1 19, 
152. 
Brinkmann,  Miss  E.,  248. 
Bristol,  Henry,  177. 
Brown,  Andrew,  131. 
Brown,  Miss  B.,  336. 
Brown,     David,     on     Organization     Paper 

(1817),  9. 
Brown,  Rev.   David,  22. 
Brown,  James  W., 

Vestryman,  93,  99,  102,  103,  104. 
Brown,  Rev.  John  Wesley,  D.  D. 

Sixth   Rector   (1882),   133,   135,    136,    359. 

Clergy  List,  396. 

Short  Biography,  135. 

His  Kindness  to  Dr.  Shelton,  164,  369. 

Extracts  from  his  Funeral  Sermon  on 

Dr.  Shelton,  47,  148. 
Extracts  from  his  article  on  Dr.   Shel- 
ton   in    "American    Church   Review," 
370,  371,  372. 
Typographical  errors  in  magazine  ar- 
ticle, 371,  372. 


448 


Index. 


Brown,  Rev.  John  Wesley,  D.  D. —  (Continued.) 

Extracts  from  his  paper  on  Dr.  Shelton 

read  before  Buffalo  Historical  Society, 

372,  373,  374,   375,  376. 

Chaplain   of   65th   Regiment,   349. 

Daily  Services  instituted  at  St.   Paul's 

(Sept.  1,  1SS7),  158. 
Dr.    Brown    and    Church    Music,    135, 

345. 
Resignation,  163,  164,  350,  359. 
Resolutions  of  Vestry,  164. 
His  sermon  at  Temple  Beth  Zion,  after 

fire,  169. 
Farewell  sermon,  170. 
Rector  of   St.    Thomas's   Church,    New 

York  City,  163,  231. 
Death,  231. 
Resolutions   of   meeting   in    New   York 

City,  231. 
Portrait   bust    in    St.    Thomas's,      New 

York,    232. 
Celtic    Cross    at    his    grave    in    Wood- 
lawn  Cemetery,  232. 
Obituary,  231. 

General  References.    139,  143,    153,  155, 
157,  167,  168,  179,  187,  242,  291,  312,  350, 
369,  372,  376,  393. 
Brown,  Mrs.  John  W.,  291. 
Brown,  Rev.  Percy,  105. 
Brown,    Mrs.    William   O.,   Jr.    (Mrs.    Imo- 

geue  Brown).  330,  331,  332,  341. 
Brown  &  Valentine   (contractors  for  Great 

Spire),  103. 
Brownell,   Bishop   (of  Connecticut),   41,  98, 

377,  378. 
Bryant,    George  H.,   227. 
Bryant,   Mrs.   Sarah   E.    (Mrs.   George  H.), 
176,  200. 
Obituary,   227. 
Buffalo,   7,   8. 

Burning  of,  7,  13,  87,  121,  199,  357,  361. 
Cr^ok    17 

Village  of,  11,   13,  16,  18,  19,  20,   21,  24, 
27,  28,  31,  42,  60,  108,  141,  199,  221,  242, 

321,  357,  363,  440. 

Old  Fourth  of  July,  21,  24,  28,  305,  320. 
Incorporated  as  a  City    (1832),   44,   257, 

322,  358. 

Prospects  of  (1828),   373. 

Buffalo   in  1830,   384,   385. 

Buffalo  in  1850,  population,  429. 

Buffalo  in  1902,  440,  441. 
Buffalo  Academy  (old),  257. 
Buffalo  Cemeteries,  108,  378. 
"Buffalo  Christian  Advocate,"  67. 
Buffalo  City  Directories,  369,  389. 
"Buffalo  Commercial  Advertiser,"  59,   109, 
Buffalo  Club  House,  386. 

319,   362,   389. 
Buffalo  Common  Schools,  362. 
"Buffalo  Emporium,"  28. 
"Buffalo   Express,"  129,   383. 
Buffalo  General  Hospital,  249,  250. 


Buffalo  Historical  Society,  258,  362,  363,  368, 
369,  372,  374,  376,  378,  389. 
(See  publications  of.) 
Buffalo  Library,  45,  388. 
"Buffalo  Patriot,"  21,  320,  368. 
Buffalo  to  Batavia   (roads  of  1826),  29. 
Building  Committees    (1828),   31;    (1849)    52, 
56    57    59    422. 

For  Rectory  (1845),  50,  51;  (1854)    79,  80; 
receiving  vault  (1855),  81;  main  tower, 
etc.,  85. 
Committee  of  1866,  103,  315. 
Minutes  of  Committee,  103,  104,  107. 
Committee  for  small  tower,  111,  115. 
Spire   (main),   121. 
After  fire    (1888),   167. 
Parish  House,  203,  21S. 
Extracts     from     minutes     of     Building 
Committee    (18SS),    394,   395. 
Building   Fund,   186,   196. 
Building  Fund  Association,  58,  173,  264. 
Bull,  Absalom,  vestryman,  21. 
Bull,  Miss  Elizabeth. 

Bequest,   224,   225.   244,   292. 
Bull,    George   \Y.,   .",:;. 
Bull,  Henry,  105,  107,  131,  331. 
Bull,   Henry  Adsit,   233,   246,   251. 
Bull,   Jabez  B.,  53,  88. 
Burial    places   in    Village    of    Buffalo,    108, 

378. 
Burning  of  Buffalo  by  the  British  (Decem- 
ber, 1813),  7,  13,  87,  121,  199,  361. 
Burning  of  St.   Paul's,  The. 

(See  Fire.) 
Burns,   George  L.,  53. 
Burns,  Millard  S.,  145. 
Burt,  Mrs.  Henry  W.,  345. 
Burtis,  Miss  Katherine,  248. 
Burtis,  P.  P.,  176  (died  1903). 
Burtis.    Mrs.    Peter   P.    (Miss   Tillinghast), 

279. 
Burwell,   Dr.   Elliott,   49. 

Clerk  to  vestry,  4.",. 
Burwell,  Dr.  George  N.,  53,  131,  176. 
Bust,  marble,  memorial  to  Sheldon  Thomp- 
son,  188,   272,  292. 
Busti,   Paul,   10,   14,  16. 
Butterfleld,      Miss     Carrie      (Mrs.      Gerrit 

Smith),  341,  342,  34::. 
Byram,    Rev.    Coleman    E.,    assistant,    227, 

231,  246,  248,  255,  396. 
Caldwell,  S.  D.,  176. 
Caldwell,    William    J.,    vestryman,    12,    13, 

15,  18. 
Callender,  Mrs.  M.  L.,  177. 
Callender,  S.  N.,  362,  363. 
Calvary  Church,  New  York,  98,  213. 
Camp,  Mrs.  Elizabeth,  26. 
Camp,    F.   W.    G.,   on   Organization    Paper 

(1817),  9. 
Camp,  John  G,  on  Organization  Paper  and 
first  vestry  (1817),  9,  12,  13,  15,  17,  18,  23, 
24,  25,  26,  30,  31,  43,  141. 


Index. 


449 


Camp,  Mrs.  John  G.,  9,  385. 
Campbell,  Heury  M.,  on  Organization  Pa- 
per and  first  vestry  (1817),  9;  13,  17,  25,  30, 
141. 
Vestryman,  9. 

Warden,  12,  15,  21,  22,  23,  24,  26,  28. 
Campbell,  Mrs.  H.  M.,  9. 
Campbell,    James,    on    Organization    Paper 

(1817),  9. 
Campbell,  Miss,  10. 
Campbell,  S.  C,  331. 
Canada,  66,  67,  371,  372,  373. 
Canandaigua,  10,  16,  384. 
Candles,  18,  322,  384. 

Cantata,     "A     Christmas     Cantata,"     354; 
"The  Crucifixion,"  354,  355;  "The  Resur- 
rection," 355;   "The  Holy  City,"  353,  356. 
Carpenter,  John  R.,  vestryman,  42. 
Carr,  Miss  C.  E.,  248. 
Carter,  Charles  S.,  organist,  350. 
Cary,  Dr.  Chas.,  335. 
Cary,  Trumbull,  335. 
Caryl,  Alex.  Hamilton,  53,  54,  324,  325. 

Vestryman,  50,  51. 
Caryl,  Benj.  Clark,  53,  54. 
Case,  Miss  C.  L.,  326. 
Case,  M.,  25. 
Cashmore,  Arthur,  312. 
Cashmore,  Charles  M.,  356. 
Cashmore,  Miss  G.  A.,  354. 
Cass,  William  S.,  107,  115,  317. 
Cathedral  Church   (Saint  Paul's),  102,  103, 

142,  182,  214,  215  (see  Saint  Paul's). 
Cayuga  Street,   North  and  South   (in  Buf- 
falo Village)   (now  Pearl  Street),  19,  220, 
221. 
Cemeteries,  108,  378. 
Central  Presbyterian  Church,  365. 
Central  New  York,  Diocese  of,  99. 
Chaffin,   Lucien  G.,   organist,   333,  334,   336, 

337,  338,  339,  340,  341,  342. 
Chaffin,    Mrs.    L.    G.     (Gertrude    Sidway), 

335. 
Chamberlain,  Hunting  S.,  53.  324. 

Vestryman,  86. 
Champlin,    O.    H.    P.,   58,    176,   180,   187,   193, 

°87 
Champlin.  O.  H.  P.,  Jr.,  233,  248. 
Chancel  (and  chancel  furniture). 
Frame  church,  17. 

Enlarged  (1828),  31,  32  and  note,  41,  141, 
.     357. 

Stone  church  (1S51),  70,  71  (1866-7),  103, 
110,   111,   142,    359    (burned,    1888),   166, 
167. 
Enlarged   in   restored   church    (1889-90), 
182,   183,   265,   266,   271,    275,   278   to  292, 
359,  394,  395.    (See  also  Altar,  Reredos, 
East   Window,    Pulpit,    Lectern,    Lit- 
any Desk,  Font.) 
Chancel,  care  of  (committee  on),  248. 
Chancel  Organ   (see  Organ). 
Chancel  Window  (see  East  Window). 


Chancellor  of  the  Diocese  (Hon.  James  M. 
Smith),  1S5,  215,  227,  228,  230. 

(Hon.  John  E.  Pound),  215,  238. 
Chandeliers  (of  glass)  in  frame  church,  28, 

59,  384. 
Channon,  William,  sexton,  78,  85,  304. 
"Chapel,  The"  (on  north  side  of  stone  edi- 
fice),  68,   70,  84,   86,   218,  269,   272,  273   (not 
a  transept),  274.  i'7n.  295,  ::i ). 
Chapel  in  basement  (see  Crypt  Chapel). 
Chapin,  Dr.  Cyrenius,  lays  corner  stone  of 
frame  St.   Paul's   (1819),    11. 
Warden,  15. 

See,  also,  13,  17,  18,  19,  30,  121,  199. 
Chapin,    Roswell,    clerk   of  the   vestry,   15, 

17,  21,  22,  23,  25,  26,  30. 
Chapin,  Mrs.  Sylvia,  53. 
Chapin,  William  H.,  193. 
Charity  Organization  Society,  236,  249,  250. 
Cherry,  Moses,  49. 
Chester,  Rev.  Dr.  A.  T.,  382. 
Chime  Fund  Association,  85,  258,  299  to  313 

(see  also  Bells). 
Chimes,  The,  of  St.  Paul's,  299  to  313  (see 

also  Bells). 
Chittenden,  Martin,  clerk  to  vestry,  42,  44. 
Choir  portion  of  chancel,  71,  275,   276. 
Choirs,   The,   of  St.  Paul's   (see  "The  Mu- 
sic,  1817  to  1903,"  319  to  356). 
General    references,    15,    24,    70,    82,    83 
88,  93,  121.    Need    of  clear    enuncia- 
tion, 332. 
First   boy   choirs    (1867),    330  to   334. 
The  chorus  choir  (organized  1872),  143, 

334  to  351. 
Vested  choir  and    choral     service   (or- 
ganized,   1878),    122,    127,   143,    146,    167, 
237,   247,   270,   278,    284,    342   to   356    (see 
also   St.    Paul's). 
Choir  vestments  (committee  on),  248. 
Cholera  in  Buffalo,  57,  1U7,  108,  358,  373,  376, 

377. 
Choral   service   (see  Choirs). 
"Christian  Ballads,"  by  Bishop  Coxe. 

99,   205,    206,    211,    212,    258,    299,    318,   319, 

423,  424,  441. 
"Our  Mother  the  Church,"  205. 
"I  Would  Sleep,"  206. 
"Dreamland,"  211. 
"Dear  Cross!"  opp.  265. 
"Where  ring  old  bells,"  299. 
"It  peereth  in  the  air,"  318. 
"And  these  that  sing,"  319. 
Quotation     from     the     Preface    of,     on 

churches  in  1840,  etc.,  423,   424. 
"Sermons  in  stones,"  424. 
The  Church,  from  "Chelsea,"  441. 
"Christmas  Cantata,  A"  (see  Cantata). 
Christinas  festivals.  36,  392  (see  music). 
Christmas   greens,    decorating  the  church, 

31,  36,  57,  77,  101,  241,  379. 
Church   in   Western  New  York,     rise     and 
progress,  7,  S. 


45o 


Index. 


Church       Charity      Foundation       (Church 

Home),  82,  138,  139,  157,  19V,  198,  249,  250, 

251,  255. 
Church  District  Plan,  236,  249. 
"Churches,  The,"  30,  174,  220,  440. 
"Church  Kalendar,"  124,  141,  266. 
"Churchman,  The,"  63,  241. 
Churchmanship,    Principles   of,    taught   by 

Rev.  Dr.  Shelton,  119,  120. 
Church  of  the  Good  Shepherd,  Buffalo,  184. 
Church  Periodical  Club,  249. 
Church  Street,  Buffalo,  19,  57,  219,  220,  221, 

254,  261,  269,  271. 
City  Hall,   Buffalo  (opened,   1876),   339,   382. 
Civil  War,   The,  90,  375. 
Clark,  Grosvenor,  50,  54. 

Vestryman,    51. 
Clark,    Miss,    387. 
Clark,  Rev.  William  A.,  Missionary  (1817) 

and  first  Rector  of  St.   Paul's,  8,   12,  16, 

18,    141. 

At  laying  of  corner  stone  (1819),  14,  15. 
Resigns  rectorship,  18,  19,  141,  174,  357, 
361.    Clergy    List,   396. 
Clarke,  Cyrus  (Building  Committee,  1870), 

107. 

Vestryman,    107.    Ill,    112,    114,    116,    117, 
119,  122,  123,  131. 
Clarke,  Staley  N.,  18. 

Vestryman,  12. 
Clarke,  Thomas  B., 
Vestryman,   23. 
Clary,  Joseph,  25. 
Clement,   Jesse,   388. 
Clere-Story,   266,   267,   424. 
Clergy,   List  of,   in  Saint  Paul's     (1817     to 

1903),  396. 
Clerk  to  the  vestry   (see  Lists  of  Vestry, 

etc.). 
Cleveland,  S.  E.,  328. 
Climate  of  Village  and    City  of  Buffalo,  34, 

101,  364,  366. 
Clinton  Hall,  Buffalo,  59,  62,  65,  325,  358. 
Clinton,  Spencer,  178. 
Clock-niches  in  Great  Tower,  298,  299. 
Clute,  Miss  (Mrs.   Seidenstricker),  334. 
Cobb,  Carlos,  88. 

Vestrvman,  89. 
Codd,  Robert  M.,  335. 
Codd,    Robert    M.,    Jr.,    233. 
Coffin,    John    A.,    on    Organization    Paper 

(1817),  9,  18. 
Coit,  Frank  E.,  132. 
Coit,  Mrs.  Frank  E. 

(Caroline      Hamilton),    132    (died    Dec. 
1902). 
Coit,  Mrs.  George,  335,  337,  338,  340. 
Collection  plates  (for  the  offering),  66,  236. 
Collingwood,  William  D.,  171,  181,  274,  282, 

288,  394,  395. 
Colton,   Henry,  53,  385. 
Colton,  Manly,  vestryman,  24,  26,  30,  37,  43, 

385. 


Columbian  Sermons,  196,  197. 
Commissioners  of  Highways  (in  village  of 

Buffalo),  221. 
Committee  (see  Standing  Committee). 
Committees,   General   (1901),  248,  249. 
Committees,   Parish    (1900),   233,   248. 
Committee  to  seat  strangers  (first),  51,  258. 
Common  Council,  Buffalo,  154,  219,  220. 
Common   Prayer,    Book   of,   32,   41,   63,   119, 

185. 
Communicants  (in  1825,  1826  and  1827),  26, 

28,  31,  320;  in  1887,  158;  in  1901,  247. 
Communion,      Silver     Service     for     (date, 
1825,    etc.),    167,    289,    290;    Memorial,    291, 
292;  for  deaf-mutes'  service,  224. 
Concrete     sidewalk     around     Church     lot, 

236,  255. 
Conger,    Miss    Ella    P.    (Mrs.    Charles    W. 

Goodyear),  336,  337,  338. 
Congratulations    of    "Ministers'    Meeting" 

(1879).  124,  382. 
Consecration     of     St.     Paul's     (see     Saint 

Paul's.) 
Contributions  for  Public  Charity  (by  mem- 
bers of  St.  Paul's),  250. 
Cook,  Miss  E.  F.,  176. 
Cook,   Mrs.  Joseph  T.    (Miss  Anna   Poole), 

177,  327,  328. 
Cook,   Merritt,   246. 
Cook,  Rev.  P.  G.,  392. 
Cooking  classes,  248. 
Cooper,  Maurice,  246. 
Copeland,   Samuel,  55. 
Cornell,  Richard  R.,  333,  334. 
Cornell,  Samuel  G.,  92,  97,  131,  258. 

Vestryman,  81,  83,  85,  90,  93,  99,  102,  104, 

105,   106,   112. 
Building  Committee  (1866),  103. 
Warden,  106,  114. 
Obituary,  139. 
Cornell,  S.  Douglas,  176,  200. 
Corner  stone: 

Frame  edifice  (1819),  14,  63,  174,  357. 
Stone  edifice  (1850),  62,  63,  325,  358. 
Contents  of,  14,  63. 
Cornwell.  H.  T.,  193. 
Corporation   of   St.    Paul's,   9,    21,   245,    360, 

361. 
Cottier,  Miss  E.  C,  248. 

Council,  Special  (1896),  to  elect  Bishop,  212. 
Cowden,  Miss  (Mrs.   Ward),  334. 
Coxe,    Rt.    Rev.   Arthur   Cleveland,    D.    D., 
Second  Bishop  of  Western  New  York: 
Short  biography,  98,  99. 
Letter  to  Dr.   Shelton  on  his  Retiracy 

(1881),  129,  130. 
Extracts  from  his  memorial  sermon  on 

Dr.  Shelton,  150,  151,  152,  372. 
Service   of   Hallowing   and    Reconciling 

St.  Paul's,  after  fire,  182,  183,  184. 
Service  at   Bishop  Coxe's     25th     Anni- 
versary, 184,  185,  186. 
Death,  204,  205. 


Index. 


451 


Coxe,  Rt.  Rev*.  Arthur  Cleveland. — 1  Continued.) 
Funeral  at  Geneva,  205. 
Character,  206,  207. 

Memorial  service  at  St.  Paul's,  207,  208. 
Extracts  from  Bishop  Doane's  sermon 

on  Bishop  Coxe,  208  to  212. 
Pastoral  staff  (old  and  new),  184,     186, 

204,  215. 
(See  Crozier. ) 

Paper  on  Bishop  Coxe,  by  G.  A.  String- 
er, 218. 
Coxe  Memorial  Hall,     Hobart    College, 

238,  239. 
"Christian   Ballads,"   by   Bishop   Coxe, 
99,  205,  206,  212,  299,  318,  319,  423,  424, 
441. 
General    references,    101,    102,    117,    124, 
129,  130,  176,  197,  214,  215,  216,  228,  329, 
330,  331,  340,  358,  359,  360,  372,  375,  423, 
433,  441. 
Coxe,  Mrs.  Arthur  Cleveland,  204. 

Death,  206. 
Coxe,  Miss  B.  C,  334,  335. 
Coxe,  Miss  M.  C,  335. 
Craig,  Rev.  J.  W.,  126. 
Crawford,  Rev.  Mr.   (1824),  24. 
Crockett,  Dr.  M.  A.,  193. 
Crockett,  Mrs.  M.  A.,  248. 
Cross  (see  Altar  Cross). 
Cross,  gilded,  on  main  spire,  108,   109,  143, 

311,  315,  316,  318. 
Cross,  Mrs.  E.  A.,  326. 
Cross,  Processional  (memorial),  290,  351. 
Crozier  (old  wooden),  186,  204. 
Crozier,    Pastoral    Staff   of   Diocese    (1890), 

184,  1S6,  215. 
"Crucifixion,  The"  (see  Cantata). 
"Crypt   Chapel,"    The    (or    Sunday    School 
room  in  basement),  118,  134,' 179,  185,  269, 
273,    278,    296,    297,    359    (see   also    Sunday 
School). 
Cunningham,  J.,  18. 
Cunningham,  Horace,  17. 

Vestryman,  21,  22. 
Curtice,  N.  P.,  344,  345. 
Curtiss,  Charles  G.,  131,  176. 

Memorial  gift  of  Litany  Desk,  134,  135. 
Curtiss,        Mrs.        Amelia       Lent        (Mrs. 
Charles    G.). 
Memorial,  134. 
Curtiss,  Charles  M.,  334,  337,  341. 
Cushing,  T.  W.,  176. 
Daboll,  Dr.  G.  C,  114,  333,  334,  335,  336,  337, 

338. 
Daboll,  Mrs.  G.  C,  334,  335. 
Daily  services,  158,  247,  359. 
Damages  (from  Natural  Gas  Company)  for 

burning  of  Church,  195,  196. 
Dambmann,  Miss  E.,  355,  356. 
Dann,  Mrs.  Jane  G.,  176. 
Davenport,  Miss  F.,  337. 


Davidson,    Dr.    Augustus    R.,    vestryman, 
119,  122,  123,  126,  130,  131,  136,  139,  153,  154, 
155,  157,  163. 
Other  references,  124,  145,  167,  168,  393. 
Death,  169. 

Resolutions  of  vestry,  169,  170. 
Obituary,  170. 
Davidson,  Mrs.  A.  R.,  334,  335. 
Davis.  Rev.  Seth,  386,  387. 
Day,  David  M.,  9,  17. 
Dayton,   Miss  Harriet  M.   (Sister  Harriet), 

obituary,   187. 
Deaconess  of  the  Parish,  187,  197  (see  Par- 
ish Visitor). 
Deaf  Mutes,  Services  for,  at  St.  Paul's,  224, 

247,  249. 
Deed  of  "Glebe  lot,"  29,  357. 
Deed  of  "Lot  42,"  19,  174,  254,  357. 
Deed  of  triangles  of  land,  church  lot,  254, 

360,  262. 
Deeds  of  pews  (see  Pews). 
De  Lancey  Divinity  School,  185. 
De   Lancey,   Rt.    Rev.   William   Heathcote, 
D.D.,  First  Bishop  of  Western  New  York. 
Marries  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Shelton,  50. 
Lays  the  corner  stone  of  the  stone  edi- 
fice of  St.  Paul's,  62. 
Consecrates     the     new     stone     edifice 

(1851),  66,  67,  68. 
Death  (1865),  96. 
Resolutions     of    vestry   of    St.    Paul's, 

96,  97. 
Account  of  his  life,  and  obituary,  97,  98. 
Quotation  from  his  sermon  at  the  con- 
secration   of    St.    Paul's    (1851),    opp. 
page  265. 
His  affection  for  Dr.  Shelton.  375. 
General  references:— 13,  99,  182,  184,  209, 
215,  302,  358,  370,  375. 
De    Laney.    Miss    Louise,    248. 
Dellanbaugh,  Miss,  329. 
Demarest,    J.    F.,    131. 
Demarest,  Mrs.,  90. 
Denton,  Robert,  organist,  324,  325,  326,  327, 

330.    (Died  July  23.  1903.) 
Depew,     Mrs.    William    B.,     lis. 
Devereux,    Mrs.    John    C,    177. 
Devereux,   Walter,   233. 
Devereux,    Mrs.    Walter   (Virginia   Evans), 

174,  181,  288. 
De   Witt,    James   W.,   53. 
Dickson,   Mrs.  J.   B.   (gift  of  the  Credence 

Table),  2S6. 
Diet   Kitchen.    19S. 

Diocese  of  Western     New     York     (formed 
1838),  97,  98,  99,  204,  208,  212,  214,  226,  230, 
238,  249,  310. 
Diocesan    Conventions.    7,    11,    12.    23,    26, 

28,    31,    32,    43,    63,    80.    187,    203,    258. 
Diocesan    Missions    (instituted    by    Bishop 

DeLancey),    97. 
Diocesan    Councils,    158.    194,    201,    212.    219, 
224,  226,  230,  238,  251,  258. 


452 


Index. 


Diocesan   Fund,   23,  26. 

"District  50,"  Charity  Organization  Society 

(St.  Paul's,  1900),  236,  249. 
District    Nursing    Association,    250. 
District  School  House,  services  in,  16. 
Doane,  Rt.  Rev.  George  W.  (Bishop  of  New 

Jersey),   12,  211. 
Doane,  Rt.  Rev.  William  Croswell  (Bishop 

of  Albany),  207,  208. 
Extracts  from  his  memorial  sermon  on 
Bishop    Coxe,    208    to    212. 
Dodge,  Mrs.  Leonard,  335. 
Doors  to  swing  outwards,  395. 
Doorways  (old),  69,  100,  101,  268. 
Dossert,   Miss   C.,   337. 
Dougherty,   Mr.   and  Mrs.   C.  A.,  177. 
Douglas,  Major  David  B.,   U.   S.  A.,  139. 
Douglass,  Rev.  Mr.,  126. 
Doves  (formerly  in  belfry  of  Great  Tower), 

298,  299. 
Dox,  M.  M.,  25. 
Drake,    John    R.,    319. 
Drawings  of  frame  edifice,  325   (see  list  of 

illustrations). 
Dress-making    Class,    248. 
Dubois,     Philo,     53. 
Dudley,    George    B.,    clerk   to   vestry,    122, 

123. 
Dutch,    old   names   of   Buffalo    streets,    19, 

20,    220. 
Dropped,   221. 
Dutton,    Mr.,    327. 
Eager,  Mrs.,  325. 
Eagle  Tavern,  Buffalo,  16,  24,  366,  373,  374. 

(See  Rathbun.) 
"Early  candle-lighting,"  18. 
"Early   Years   of   the   Church   in    Buffalo" 

(extracts    from   sermon  by    Rev.   C.    W. 

Hayes,  D.  D.),  383,  384. 
"Easter      Bells"      (carol    with    choir    and 

chimes,    1866),    330. 
Easter   Monday    (day   of   elections   of  ves- 
try),   9,    202,    203. 
East  Window,  Great  (1851-1SS7),  71,  142,  298. 
(For    later    windows    see    Shelton    Me- 
morial Windows.) 
Eaton,   Augustine,    vestryman,   37. 
Eaton,    Edith    (Mrs.    William    B.    Cutter), 

poem,   166. 
Eaton   family,   385. 
Eaton,  John  B.,  clerk  to  vestry,  89. 
Eaton,  Lewis,   53,    54. 

Edifice,  Church,  General  descriptions  of: 
Frame  edifice,  16,  17,  32,  41,  141,  362,  365, 

366,  384,  385. 
New  stone  edifice,  1851  (by  "C.  W.  H." 

Rev.  C.  W.  Hayes,  D.  in,  68  to  72. 
Stone  edifice  (1883),  141  to  143. 
Restored   St.    Paul's,   265  to  298,   298  to 
318,  390  (see  St.  Paul's). 
Editorial     in     "Buffalo     Express"     (1880), 

"Now  by  St.  Paul's,"  383. 
Eigenbrodt,   Rev.    Dr.,   89. 


Election  of  Bishop  Walker,   212. 
Elections  of  Vestry  (see  Vestry  Elections). 
Electric  lights,  in  church,  277. 

In  Tower,  261. 
Ellicott,  Andrew,  of  West  Point  (first  Sur- 
veyor  General  of  U.    S.     Brother   to   Jo- 
seph Ellicott),  139. 
Ellicott  Benjamin    (brother   to   Joseph   El- 
licott), 172. 
"Ellicott's  Bow  Window,"   16,   220,   221. 
Ellicott,    Joseph    (agent   of   Holland    Land 
Company.     Buffalo    laid    out    by    him    in 
1804),  7,  172,  174,  220,  221,  357,  369. 
Committee  solicit  lot  and  donation  for 

St.  Paul's,  10,  11,  13,  14,  23. 
Deeds  "Lot  42"   to  the  Church,  14,  19. 
141,   254. 
Elliott,  F.,  353. 

Elm  (old  tree  on  Church  lot),  299. 
Endowment   Fund,    157,    158,    221,    223,    224, 
225,  230,  231,  234,  235,  255,  256,  262.  292. 
Act  for  protecting,  231,  234,  235,  244,  245. 
English,  Henry,  177. 
English  sparrows,  298. 
Enlargement  of  Chancel  in  restored  edifice 

(1889),  265,  275. 
Envelope   (or  pledge)    system  of  offerings, 
199,  241. 
Committee   on,   233,    248. 
Episcopal  chair  (see  Bishop's  chair). 
Episcopate  Fund,  12,  26,  122. 
Erie  Canal,   S,   18,   27,   43,   55,   256,   357,   367, 

384.   387. 
Erie     County     (separated     from     Niagara 

County  in  1821),   9. 
Erie     County    Clerk's     office     (records    of 

deeds),  19,  29,  220,  262. 
Erie  County  Savings  Bank,  82,  118,  174,  219, 

220,  440. 
Erie  Street,   Buffalo,   20,   219,   221,   23S,   254, 

269,  318. 
Eucharistic  spoon   (memorial),  291. 
Evans,  Charles  W.,  clerk  of  the  vestry,  52, 
56,    62,    65,    78,    79,    81,    83,    85. 
"Junior   Vestry,"   57,    58,    110,    121,    173, 

258,  260,  429. 
Treasurer,  79,  80,  81,  83,  85. 
Vestryman,  79,  81,  83,  85,  89. 
Clerk,    treasurer    and     vestryman      (in 

1854),  79. 
Warden,  90,  93,  99,  102,  104,  105,  106,  107, 
111,  112,  111.  116,   117,  119,   122,  123.  126, 
130,  136,  139.  15::.   155,   157.  163. 
Building  Committee   (1866),  103;    (1870), 

107;    (1871),   111,  115. 
Death  (February  8,  1889),  171. 
Resolutions  of  vestry.    172 
Account  of  his  life,  172,  173,  174. 
Memorial  Lectern,  181,  2S7.  288. 
General    references:    53,    57,   58,    63,    64, 
65,  80,  88,  92,  97,  131,  141,  143,  149,  154, 
172,   17::,   171,   176,  258,  259,  299,  387,  388. 


Index. 


453 


Evans,   Mrs.   Charles  W.    (Mary   Peacock), 

173,   176,   181,   200,   288. 
Evans,  Miss  Alice  M.   (see  Mrs.  G.  Hunter 

Bartlett). 
Evans,    Miss   Virginia     (see     Mrs.    Walter 

Devereux). 
Evans,  David  E.,  16,  29. 
Evans,  Ellicott,  53. 
Evans,  James  C,  53. 
Ewer,  The  brass  (baptistery),  2S8. 
"Extracts  from  My  Diary,  by  St.   Paul's" 

(1850),  388. 
Fallon,   Mrs.,  324. 

Fargo,   George  W.,   organist,  342,  343. 
Fargo,    William    G.,    82. 
Farmers'    Loan    and    Trust    Co.,    of    New 

York  (successors  to  Holland  Land  Co.), 

254,  256,  360. 
Farr,  Miss  J.,  327. 
Father  Nash,  185. 
Faulkner,    Harry,   246. 
Faxon,   William  A.,  233. 
Federlein,     F.,     342. 
Ferguson,    Robert,    177. 
Fidler,  Rev.  Arthur  J.,  assistant,  192,  193, 

360,   396. 
Field,    Bishop,   66. 
Field,    George    S.,    176. 
Field,    Mrs.    George    S.,    176. 
Fifteenth  Street  house  and  lot  (Miss  Eliza- 
beth McKee's  gift  to  St.  Paul's),  225,  226. 
Fiftieth  anniversary  of  Dr.   Shelton's  rec- 

torate    (1879),   124,   125,    359,    382,   383    (see 

Shelton). 
Fillmore,    Millard    (Ex-President    U.    S.). 
Funeral    at   St.    Paul's    (1874),   116,   337. 
Fillmore,  M.  Powers,  176. 
Fire  at  St.  Paul's  (1888),  165,  166,  167,  178, 

195,    196,    265,    266,    267,    269,    270,    274,    278, 

280,  284,  290,  291,  292,  294,  296,  297,  298,  303, 

344,  350,  359,  390. 
Second    fire    (December,    1889),    slight 
damage,  181   (see  Saint  Paul's). 
Fire  Company  (Cataract  No.  1,  1830),  385. 
"Firo  marks"  (on  towers),  166,  270. 
Fire-proof  features  of  new  edifice,  277. 
Fire-wood   (towards  rector's   salary,   1822), 

22,   363. 
First  boy   choir   in   St.    Paul's    (1867)    (see 

choirs). 
First  building  for  religious  worship  in  Vil- 
lage of  Buffalo  (St.  Paul's),  16,  21,  22,    29. 
First    committee    for     seating     strangers 

(1816),  51,  258. 
First  confirmation  at  St.  Paul's  (1S21),  21. 
First  Episcopal  church   in   "Holland  Land 

Purchase"  (see  Sheldon). 
First    organ    at    St.   Paul's   (1825),  25,  320 

(see  organ). 
First  Presbyterian  Church. 

Sale    of   pews    in    new     frame     edifice 

(1823),    23,    24. 
Brick   edifice    dedicated    (1827),    30,   174. 


First  Presbyterian  Church— (Continued.  I 

Sold    to    Erie    County    Savings    Bank 

(1889),  174,  175. 
"The  Churches,"   174,   175,   220,   440. 
General    references,    168,    174,    180,    220, 
389,  440  (see  Presbyterian  Society). 
First  sale  of  pews  in  St.  Paul's  frame  edi- 
fice (1820).   L6, 
First  vested  choir  in  St.  Paul's  (1878)   (see 

choirs). 
Fiske,  F.  W.,  333,  335. 
Flagg,  Samuel  D.,  53,  58,  387. 

Vestryman,   51,   52,   56,   62,    65.    78. 
Fleischmann,    Simon,    organist,    346,    347. 
Flint,  Dr.  Austin,  53. 

Floral    decorations    of    chancel     (commit- 
tee), 248. 
"Flying  Buttress,"  270,  314. 
Folwell,  Dr.  M.  B.,  333. 
Font,  white  marble,  in  frame  church  (see 
illustration  of  chancel). 
Reserved   at   sale   (1850),   59. 
Font   (white  marble),   various  positions  in 

stone  church,   TO,   i;7.j. 
Font    (brown    stone),    given    bv    Wm.    D. 
Collingwood   (1889),  181,  269,   274,   275,  288, 
394  (see  also  baptistery). 
Font  in  "Crypt  Chapel"  (memorial  to  Mrs. 

Shelton),  225,  278,  296. 
Foot-stoves   (in  old  frame  church),  385. 
Forbey,  David,  53. 
Ford,  Elijah,  43,  53,  54,  56.  58. 
Clerk  to  the  vestry,  46,  47. 
Vestryman,  47,  48,  49,  50,  51,  52,  56,  62, 

65,  78,  79,  81,  83,  85. 
Death  and  obituary,  123. 
Ford,  Miss  (Mrs.  E.  L.  Baker),  328. 
Ford  family,  385. 
Forest  Lawn  Cemetery,  Buffalo  (first  used 

1850),  108,  147,  150,  293,  374,  377,  378. 
Forsyth,  Miss  E.,  333,  334,  336. 
Fort  Erie,  Ontario,  11. 
Forward,  Judge  Oliver,  9,  10,  13,  14.  17. 
Vestryman,  15,  21,  22. 
First  treasurer  of  parish,  16. 
Forward,  Mrs.  Oliver,  10. 
Foundation  of  new  stone  edifice  begun,  57, 

143,  358. 
Fourth  of  July,  21,  24,  305,  320,  340. 
Frame    church    edifice  (see    Saint    Paul's 

and  edifice). 
Frances,  Sister,  197. 
Fredericks,  Mrs.,  349,  350. 
Fredonia,  N.  Y.,  22. 
Free    church    for    lake-men,    etc.     (1849), 

386,  387,  388. 
Fresh  Air  Mission,  250. 
Frierson,  J.  N.,  233,  246. 
Fuller,  Bishop,  124. 
Furnaces,  269,  277. 
Furniture  in  "Crypt  Chapel,"  278. 
Gallagher,  William  B..  177,  233. 
Gallagher,  Mrs.  Mary  L.  (Mrs.  Wm.  B.),  177. 


454 


Index. 


Galleries  in  frame  church  (see  St.  Paul's, 

edifice,  and  organ). 
Gallery,     East     (or  organ    loft)    in   frame 

church,    325    (see    also    organ,    and    St. 

Paul's). 
Gallery  over  "Chapel"  (1851),  70,  84,  86,  273, 

274  (see  also  St.  Paul's). 
Gallerv,    West    (or    organ    loft),    in    stone 

church,  82,  83,  84,  88,  92,  93,  101,  143,  267, 

268,  270,  328,  329,  330,  333,  334,  335,  336,  341, 

34:J.  ::4,.  351,  358  (see,  also,  St.  Paul's,  and 

Organ). 
Ganson,   Howard,  246. 
Ganson,  John  S.,  vestryman,  79,  81,  83,  85, 

86,  87,  89. 
Death  and  obituary,  118. 
Memorial  window,  295. 
Ganson,  Mrs.  John  S.  (Sophronia  Ballard), 

memorial  window,  295. 
Gaslight  on  Pearl  Street  (1863),  91. 
Gates,  Miss  A.  M.,  351. 
Gedies,  Frank,  312,  390. 
Gelston,  Samuel  F.,  49. 
General  Convention,  80,  125,  258. 
General  Theological  Seminary,   41,  98,   149, 

213,  377. 
Genesee  River,  8,  141. 
Genesee  Street,  Buffalo,  32,  388. 
Geneva,    N.    Y.,    97,    98,    117,    204,    205,    226, 

238. 
German    Evangelical    St.    Peter's    Church, 

59,  325,  388,  389. 
German    Mission    (see    St.    Andrew's    Mis- 
sion). 
Getheford,  Miss,  344. 
Gibraltar,  Lord  Bishop  of,  318,  432,  433. 
Gibson,  George,  53. 
Gibson,  Robert  W.    (his  work  as  architect 

of  the  restored  St.  Paul's),  170,  265,  267, 

279,  284,  286,  288,  394,  395,  425,  426. 
Gilbert,  Erastus,  13,  30. 
Gilbert,  S.  J.,  organist,  185,  345,  351,  352. 
Gillett,  Miss  H.  S.,  326. 
Gillett,  Henry  T.,  vestryman,  111. 
Gilmore,  H.  G.,  organist,  333. 
Gilmore,  Robert,  18. 
Girl's  Friendly  Society,  248. 
Glebe  Lot  (or  Gospel  Lot,  1827),  22,  27. 
Deed,  29,  44,  48,  49,  50,  141,  357. 
Sold  (1844),  49,  50,  358. 
Glenny,  William  H.,  176,  222. 
Glenny,   Mrs.   Jane  Grosvenor   (Mrs.   Wm. 
H.),  176,  221,  295. 
Death,  222. 
Godwin,  D.  C,  vestryman,  119. 
"Golden  Stream,  The"  (Erie  Canal),  27. 
Goodrich,  A.  A.,  57. 
Goodrich,  Guy  H.,  25,  28,  30,  43,  45,  53,  54. 

Vestryman,  26,  31,  44,  46. 
Gorman,  Misses  Eliza  and  Mary,  177. 
Gospel  Lot  (see  Glebe  Lot). 
"Gospel   Messenger,   The,"  63,  68,  266,   326, 
328,  381. 


Gould,     Charles    A.     (gift    of    oak    litany 

desk),  181,  288,  289. 
Gould,  Lucius,  30,  43. 
Gounod's   "St.    Cecilia,"   339,   340,   348,   352, 

Grace  Church,  Baltimore,  98,  193,  207. 
Grace     Church,     Black     Rock,     organized 

(1824),  24,  26,  42,  64,  101,  384. 
Grace  Church,  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  187. 
Grace  Church,  Sandusky,  Ohio  (1835),  385. 
Graham,  Miss  M.  D.,  354. 
Grand  Island,  27,  364,  367. 
Granger,  Erastus  (on  Organization  Paper, 

and  warden  first  vestry,  1817),  9,  10,  141. 
Granger,  Gideon,  16. 

Gravel  walk  in  front  of  church  (1828),  31. 
Graveson,  William  (sexton),  180,  197,  312. 
Great   (or  main)   Tower  and   Spire,   314  to 
318 
Also:    56,  71,  81,  83,  85,  103,  107,  108,  109, 
110,  111,  121,  142,  143,  261,  310,  311,  432. 
In  fire  (1888),  166,  167,  265,  270. 
Fire  mark,  166,  270. 
Junction  of  octagon  and  square,  314. 
Small  buttresses,  314. 
Crockets,  314. 

Simplifying  original  design,  314. 
A  "broach"  spire,  314. 
Mr.  Upjohn's  preliminary  design,  314. 
The  turret  buttress,  314. 
The  west  porch,  314. 
The  "flying  buttress,"  270,  314. 
Entrance  to  tower,  315. 
Tower  room,  85,  270,  310,  315. 
"Tower  Fund,"  380. 
Height  of  main   tower  and   spire,   103, 

109,  142,  315,  316. 
Completed  (1870),  108,  109. 
Interior    arrangements    of    tower    and 

spire,  310,   311. 
Exterior     of     spire,     inscriptions,    317, 

318. 
Architectural  effect  of  tower  and  spire, 

142,  143,  318,  431,  432,  433,  440. 
Spire  Cross,  108,  109,  143,  311,  316,  440. 
Wooden  model,  390,  391  (see,  also,  Bel- 
fry, Bells,  and  St.  Pauls). 
Green     &    Wicks     (architects     of    Parish 

House),  217. 
Green,  B.   F.,  57. 
Green,   Elias,  43. 
Greene,  George  C,  200. 
Grosvenor,  The  Misses  Abby  and  Lucretia, 

176,  221,   222,   224,  295. 
Grosvenor  family  (shared  in  erecting  mem- 
orial  window  to  Mrs.   William   Shelton), 
295. 
Grosvenor,  Mrs.  Lucretia  S.  (see  Mrs.  Wil- 
liam   Shelton). 
Grosvenor,  Seth,  50. 
Grosvenor,  Seth  H.,  53,  58,  221,  222. 
Vestryman,  89,  90. 
Obituary,  94. 


Index. 


455 


Grosvenor,  Mrs.  Jane  Wey  (Mrs.  Seth  H.), 
94,   176,   295. 
Obituary,  221,  222. 
Resolutions    of   vestry,    222. 
Memorial  to.   224,   244,   292. 
Grosvenor,  Stephen  K.,  43,  50,  137. 
Ground-plans  of  church,  68,  115,  267. 
Guild,   Miss  Martha,  327. 
Guild  House,   St.   Paul's,   153,  158,  167,  186, 
217,  280,  290,  291  (see,  also,   Rectory,  old, 
and  Parish  House,  old). 
Guild  of  Saint  Paul's,  117,  119,  124,  145,  169, 

392,  393,  394. 

Guild    of    the    Holy    Child     (missionary), 

249. 
Gurteen,  Rev.  S.  Humphreys. 

Assistant  minister,  117,  118,  121. 

Assistant  rector,  122,  124. 

Associate  rector,  125,  126. 

Clergy  list,  396;  see,  also,  130,  341,  342, 
343,  393. 
Gymnasium,  girls'  class,  248. 
Hagar,  Henry,  53,  54,  318. 

Vestryman,  51,  52,  56,  62,  65,  79. 
Hale,   Rev.   Charles  S.,   assistant,   113,   117, 

393,  396. 

Hale,  Mrs.  Louisa  Weed  (Mrs.  C.  S.),  117, 

199. 
Hale,  Rev.   Dr.,  140. 
Hale,  Ebenezer,  219. 
Hale,  Mrs.  E.   (Miss  Emily  Hills),  219. 
Hall,    N.   J.,   177. 

"Hallelujah  chorus,"  338,  339,   340,   345. 
Hallowell,  Alexander  S.,  193,  246. 
Hallowing    and    Reconciling,     Service    of, 

(1890),  182. 
Hamilton,  Benjamin  B.,   132. 
Hamilton,     Mrs.     B.     B.     (Julia    Hayden), 

329. 
Hamilton,   Miss  Caroline   (see  Mrs.   Frank 

E.   Coit). 
Hamilton,  Claude,  132. 
Hamilton,  Henry,  25,  43,  53,  54,  323. 

Vestryman,   22,  28,  37,   42,   43,  44,   45. 

Warden,  46,  47,  48,  49,  50. 

Death,  132. 
Hamilton,  Mrs.  Eliza  (Mrs.  Henry),  132. 

Obituary,  132. 
Hammer-beam  roof,  69,  266,  271. 
Hanks,  Horatio,  21,  303. 
Harris,  Bishop  C.  A.,  433. 
Harris,  Lorenzo  (sexton),  197,  242,  246. 
Harris,   Robert  D.,   305. 

Harrison,    Jonas,    on    Organization    Paper 
and  first  vestry  (1817),  9,  13,  18,  141. 

Vestryman,  12,  15. 
Harrison,    Mrs.   Jonas,   10. 
Harron,  Robert,   422. 

Harrower,   Horatio  C,  203,  218,  233,  292. 
Harrower,  Mrs.   H.  C.   (Kate  S.   Sweeney), 

memorial,    291,    292. 
Hart,  Asa  E.,  53. 
Hart,   Robert,  53. 


Hasbrouck,  General  H.  C,  U.  S.  A.,  229. 
Hasbrouek,   Mrs.   H.   C.   (Laetitia  V.   War- 
ren), 177,  229. 
Haskins,   R.   W.,  373. 
Hatch,   Israel  T.,   53. 

Vestryman,   79. 
Hawkes,   Rev.   Dr.   Cicero  S.,  139. 
Hayden,  Albert,  53. 
Vestryman,  50,  51. 
Death,  112. 
Hayden,  Mrs.  Albert  (Sevilla  Brace),  112. 
Hayden,    Miss    Mary    (Mrs.    John    B.    Sey- 
mour),  328,   329,   335. 
Hayden,    Miss   Julia    (Mrs.    B.    B.    Hamil- 
ton), 329. 
Hayes,    Rev.    Dr.    Charles   Wells    ("C.   W. 

H."),   68,  383. 
Hayes,  Edmund,  176,  180,  203,  218,  348,  352, 
353,  354. 
Gift  of  offering  plates,  231,  236,  238. 
Vestryman,   175,   187,    188,    192,   196,   199, 
200,  202,  213,  223,  226,  228,  232,  241,  245, 
256. 
Hayes,   Dr.   George  E.,  53,  54,  58,   131. 

Vestryman,    44,    45,    46,    47,    78,    79,    81, 

83,   85,   94. 
Death   and  obituary,    134. 
Memorial,  221,  235,  244,  292. 
Memorial  window,  294. 
Hayes,  Mrs.  George  E.,  134,  177,  221,  235. 
Hayes,  Miss  Harriet 

(Mrs.    Charles  H.    Smith),   90,   134. 
Hazard,    George    S.,    131. 

Vestryman,    99,    105,    106,    112,    114,    116, 
117,    119,    122,    123. 
Heathcote  School,  330,  333,  338. 
Hebard,    John,    53,    55. 

Height  of  main  tower  and  spire,   discrep- 
ancies  in,   103,   109,   315,   316,   317. 
Heminway,    Silas,    50. 
Hendy,   H.   S.,  354. 
Henrich,    Paul,    341. 
Hersee,    Miss    E.,    324. 

Heywood,   Russell   H.,  30,  37,  43,   46,  49,  53, 
54,    63,    84,    90,    323,    324. 
Vestryman.  28,  30.  31.  37,  46,  47.  48,  49.50. 
Warden,  42,  43,  51,  52,  56,  62,  65,  78,  79, 

81,   83,   85,   86,   87,   88,   89,   90. 
Erected    memorial    church    at    Venice, 

Ohio,    140. 
Death    and    obituary,    140. 
Hibbard,   G.   A.,   131. 
Hickman.   Thomas,   305. 
Hicks,    Frederick,    356. 
Higgins,    B.,    321. 
Higgins,   John   B.,   193. 
Hill,  Mrs.    Etta    Ware,    24s. 
Hilliard,  H.  S.,  167. 
Hills,  Miss  Clarissa,   219. 
Hill,  Miss   Matilda,    178. 
Hills,    Miss   Emilv    (Mrs.    Ebenezer   Hale), 

219. 
Hills,    Rev.    Dr.    George   Morgan,   219,    387. 


456 


Index. 


Hills,  Horace,  219. 

Hills,  Miss    Mary    W.    (obituary),    219. 

Hills,  The  Misses,  School,  219. 

Historical  Outline  of  St.  Paul's  (1817-1903), 

357    to   360. 
Historical  Notes  (1817-1903),  357  to  395. 
"Historicus,"  362. 

"History  of  Fox,  Ellicott  and  Evans  fami- 
lies,"  173. 
Hitchcock,  Rev.  Mr.,  362. 
Hitchcock,  Rev.  Dr.  Wm.  A.,  168,  185. 
Hobart,     Rt.     Rev.    John    Henry,     D.     D., 
Bishop  of  New  York. 

Missionary  efforts,   7,   S,   10,   11,   12,   22, 

28,    33. 
St.  Paul's   (frame  church)  consecrated 

by    him    (1821),    20,    21. 
See,  also:  34,  35,  36,  39,  97,  111,  211,  249, 

357,  358,   363,  365,   370,  377,  384. 
Death,  43. 
Hobart,  Rev.  Dr.  J.  H.  (of  Geneva,  N.  Y.), 

117,  212. 
Hobart   College,   97,    138,   139,   140,   149,   185, 
199     257     333. 
Coxe   Memorial   Hall,   238,   239,   251. 
Hobbs,    Henry  J.,   299. 
Hodge,   William,   378. 
Hodges,    Miss  A.    L.,   341. 
Holland  Land  Company: 

Joseph    Ellicott,   Agent,   7. 

Buffalo    laid    out   by,    7. 

First  Church  on  purchase  (at  Sheldon), 

8. 
St.    Paul's   asks  for  a  church   lot  and 

donation,    10,    11,    13,    14,    15,    16. 
Promise  of  lot  "No.  42,"  14. 
Deed   to    St.    Paul's    of   Lot    "No.    42," 

19,    20,    220. 
Names  of  the  Holland  Land  Company, 

19. 
The   Company    solicited   for   a    "Gospel 

lot"  ("Glebe  lot"),  22,  23,  27,  29. 
"Glebe  lot"  deeded  to  St.  Paul's,  29. 
See,  also,  141,  172,  174,  250. 
Triangles  of  land  not  included  in  deed 
of  lot  42,  254. 
Hollister,   Miss   Eliza   (Mrs.    William  Wil- 
liams), 57. 
Hollister,    Miss,    328,    329. 
Hollister,    Mrs.   Robert   (Belinda  Radcliff), 

321. 
Holmes,    Miss   A.    C,   335. 
"Holy  City,"  The  (see  cantata). 
Home  for  the   Friendless,   157,   250. 
Homeopathic   Hospital,   250. 
Honorary  rector  (see  Shelton). 
Hopkins,   Dr.   Henry  R.,   131,  140,   145,   140, 
164,  168,  176,  193,  200,  246,  333,  334,  335,  346, 
348. 

Building  Committee  (1888),  167,  180,  395. 
Vestryman,   126,   130,   136,   139,    153,   154, 

155,    157,    163,    175,    187. 
Delegate  to   Diocesan   Convention,   194, 
201,  203,  219,  224,  226,  230,  238. 


Hornung,  Miss  (Mrs.  Heussler),  344. 
Hospital   Fund,    Subscription   for    (nucleus 

of  Church  Charity  Foundation),  82. 
Houliston,   Andrew,  388. 
House,   Miss  Gertrude  L.,  248. 
House,    Miss   S.    Lucette    (Mrs.    Schofield), 

326,    327,    334. 
House,  William  C,  13. 
Housekeepers'  Class,  248. 
Howard,  Miss  Kathleen,  354. 
Howard,  Henry,  82. 
Howell,  Miss,  328. 
Howland,  Henry  R.,  131,  145,  178,  246,  343. 

Superintendent  of  Sunday  School,  154. 

Vestryman,  126,  130,  136,  139. 
Howland,  Mrs.  H.  R.,  248. 
Hoyt,  Joseph  D.,  10,  17,  25. 

Vestryman,  22,  23,  24,  26. 
Hoyt,  Mrs.,  10. 
Hoyt,  Lawson,  26. 
Hoyt,  Sarah  (Mrs.  Lawson),  26. 
Hughes,  Rev.  William  M.,  117,  396. 
Hulburton,  N.  Y.,  Stone  Quarry  at, 

Purchased     (1850),     for     building     the 
church,  55,  85. 

Sold,  89. 
Hurlbert,    Edwin,    vestryman,    93,    99,    102. 

Building  Committee  (I860),  103. 

General  superintendence  of  building  of 
great  spire,  107,  121,  317. 

Death  and  obituary,  121. 

Name  on  stone  flnial  of  spire,  317. 
Hurlbert,  Mrs.  Edwin,  177. 
Huske,  Rev.  John, 

Assistant,  155,  156,  359,  396. 

Minister-in-charge,  167,  169,  176. 

Resignation,  179. 

Minute  of  vestry,  179. 
Hutehins,   Rev.   Charles  L.,   assistant,   106, 
108,  396. 

The  spire-cross  set  in  place  by  him, 
109. 

Resigns,  113,  126. 
Hutchinson,   E.  Howard,  176,  200,  212,  219, 
224. 

Vestryman  (1903),  261. 
Hutchinson,  John  M.,  387,  388. 
"Index    of    Streets    and    Public    Grounds," 

221. 
Industrial  School,  393. 
"Inflammatus,"  337,  341. 
Ingersoll,  Rev.  Dr.  Edward,  rector  of  Trin- 
ity Church,  Buffalo,  66,  387. 

Assists  at  St.  Paul's,  130,  137,  396. 

Death,  138,  359. 

Obituary,  138,  139. 

Resolutions  of  St.  Paul's  Vestry,  138. 

His   friendship   with    Dr.    Shelton,    138, 
148,  375. 

Bishop  Coxe's  tribute  to  him,  186. 
Ingersoll,  Mrs.  Edward  (Catherine  F.  Sey- 
mour), 139. 
Ingleside  Home,  Buffalo,  250. 


Index. 


457 


Insurance   (amounts    received    after  Are), 

171. 
International   Convention,    Brotherhood   of 

St.  Andrew,  221. 
International  Traction  Company   (Int.   R'y 

Co.),  238,  251,  252,  253,  262. 
Iron  fence  around  church  lot,  86,  87. 
Ivy,  The,  142,  298. 
James,  Aaron,  16,  17. 

Vestryman,  21. 
James,  William,  26. 
Jarvis,  Rev.  S.  F.,  372. 
Jefferson,  Thomas  (ex-President  U.  S.). 

Death  (1826),  services  at  St.  Paul's,  28. 
Johnson,    Ebenezer    (first    Mayor    of    Buf- 
falo;  on  Organization   Paper,   St.   Paul's, 
1817),  9,  13. 
Johnson,  Mrs.  Ebenezer,  10. 
Johnson,  F.  T.,  177  (chimed  the  bells  dur- 
ing the  fire,  1888),  165,  312. 
Johnson,    Dr.    Samuel    (Dr.    Shelton    com- 
pared to  him  by  Bishop  Coxe),  151. 
Johnson's  Park  Rectory    (see  rectory). 
Johnston,  Rev.  Samuel,  missionary. 

Presided  at  organization  of  St.   Paul's 
(1817),  8,  9,  10,  11,  141,  250,  357,  361,  384. 
Clergy  List,  396. 
Jones,  Mrs.  Carrie  (parish  visitor),  216,  218. 
Jones,  Rev.  W.  M.,  assistant,  137,  396. 
Josephs,  J.,  10. 
Joy,  Walter,  50,  53,  54,  58. 

Vestryman,  47,  48,  86,  87,  89,  90. 
Death  and  resolutions  of  vestry,  93. 
Joy,  Thaddeus,  93. 
Joyce,    Philip,    treasurer,    190,    192. 
Resigns,  193. 

Thanks    of  vestry,   193,    214. 
Joyce,  William  A.,  154,  176. 

Treasurer,  193,  196,  199,  200,  204,  213,  :'2::, 

226,  230,  232,  242,  246. 
Resigns,  261. 

Resolutions  of  vestrv,  261. 
"Junior  Vestry,"   57,   58,   110,   121,   173,  258, 
260. 

Christmas  dinner  (1849),  429. 
Kaffenberger,  William,  organist,  334,  346. 
"Kalendar,  The."  124,  141. 
Kearney,  Rev.  Reverard,  35. 
Fourth  rector  (1S29).  36. 
Resigns,  37,  39,  141,  357. 
Clergy  List,  396. 
Kellogg,  A.  B.,  334. 
Kendrick,   Rodney.    115. 
Kendrick,  Mrs.  R.,  335. 
Kenyon,    Horace   F.,   88,   327,   328,   329,   330, 

331,  332. 
Killip,  W.  W.,  organist,  330,  331. 
Kimberly,  Miss  Charlotte,  131,  176. 

Memorial,  223,  244,  292. 
Kimberly,    Miss   Edith    (see   Mrs.    William 

H.  Walker). 
Kimberly,  Edward  L.,  131,  176. 
Kimberly  family,  64,  385. 


Kimberly,  Frank,  131. 

Kimberly,    John    L.    (Sr.),    .",::,    54,    64,    88, 
121,  131,  259. 
Vestryman,  52,  56,  62,  65,  78. 
Building    Committee    (1855),    81,    83. 
Death    and    obituary,    153. 
Kimberly,    Mrs.    John   L.    (Eliza  A.    Haw- 
ley),  153. 
Kimberly,  John  L.,  Jr.,  176. 

Vestryman,  107. 
Kimberly,  Miss  Lucy  (see  Mrs.  DeWitt  C. 

Weed). 
Kimberly,    The   Misses   (Miss   Susan,    Miss 

Charlotte  and  Miss  Marian),  131. 
Kimberly,  Miss  Susan,  131,  176,  223,  334. 
Kip,  Henry,  13,  17,  18,  26,  30. 
Vestryman,  15. 
Warden,  21,  22. 
Kip,  Henry,  114,  117,  125. 
Kip,    Miss    Katherine,    321,    322. 
Kip  family,  385. 
Kitchen  garden,  248. 
"Kremlin  Block"   (old),  374. 
Kuhn,  Frank,  355. 
Lacy,  John  T.,  53. 

Clerk  of  vestry,  87,  89. 
Vestryman,   55,   SI,   86,   87,   88,   104,    105, 
106,  107,  111. 
Ladies'  Aid  and  Relief  Society,  393. 
La  Mont,   Miss  A.   F.,  345. 
Lancet-pointed  windows,  69,  266,  268,  273. 
Landon,   Joseph,   13. 
Langdon,  J.  M.,  321. 
Lapey,  Percy,  349,  351. 

Larned,  John  S.,ou  Organization  Paper  and 
first  vestry    (1817),   9,   13,   141. 
Vestryman,  9,  12. 
Larned,  Mrs.  J.  S.,  10. 
Lautz,   Adam,   344. 

Lautz,  F.  C.  M.,  341,  342,  344,  345,  350. 
Lay,  Miss  H.,  335. 
Lay,  John,  Jr.,  10,  13,  30,  35,  43. 
Vestryman,  31,  44. 

His   funeral   the   first    in   Forest   Lawn 
Cemetery  (1850),  37S. 
Laymen's  Missionary  League,  193,  196,  249, 

393. 
Lay   Readers,   193,    246. 
Leake,   Catherine,  8,   9. 
Leake,   Godfrey  W.,  S. 

Leake,    Isaac   Q.,    on    Organization     Paper 
and  warden  first  vestry  (1817),  8,  9,  IS,  141. 
Warden.  9,  12. 
Leake,  Mary  T.,  8. 
Lectern    (1851),   71. 

Lectern,  first  brass  eagle  (presented  at 
Christmas,  1870,  by  Hon.  and  Mrs.  Henry 
Shelton  Sanford,  and  destroyed  in  fire 
of  1888),  95,  110,  111,  143. 
Lectern,  brass  eagle  (1889)  (memorial  in 
restored  church  to  Charles  W.  Evans), 
1S1  287  288. 
Lee, 'mIss  Florence,  248,  249. 


458 


Index. 


Lee,   George  F.,   vestryman,   112,   114. 

Resolutions  of  vestry  on  his  death,  115. 

Lee,  Mrs.  George  F.  (Mrs.  Mary  H.  Lee), 
176. 

Lee,    R.   Hargreave,   25,   43,   385. 

Leggitt,  Samuel,  367. 

Lenten  Service,  first  "  noonday,"  218,  237. 

Lepper,  J.  A.,  177,  193. 

Lewis,  Daniel  Wadsworth  (uncle  of  Mrs. 
Shelton),  150. 

Lewis,  Mark  H.,  226. 

Lewis,  Thomas  F.,  177. 

Lewiston,    N.    Y.,   17,   29. 

Lipp,   John  A.,   422. 

List  of  the  Clergy  at  St.  Paul's  (1817-1903), 
396. 

List  of  the  Wardens  and  Vestrymen  of  St. 
Paul's  (1817-1903),  397  to  420. 

Lists  of  Subscribers  to  St.  Paul's  at  differ- 
ent times  (these  names  are  not  repeat- 
ed in  this  index),  426  to  439. 

Litany  desk,  brass  (destroyed  1888) ;  mem- 
orial to  Mrs.  Amelia  Lent  Curtiss  (1882), 
134,   143. 

Litany  desk  (gift  of  Charles  A.  Gould, 
1889),  181,  288,  289. 

Litany  desk,  usage  of,   289. 

Littell,   Rev.  John  S.,  curate,  201,  396. 
Resigned,   226. 

Letter   of   vestry   to    him,    226. 
His  reply  (and  tribute  to  Dr.  Regester), 
226,  227. 

Lobdell,    Rev.   Dr.,   168,   185. 

Lock,  John,  304. 

Locke,  Franklin  D.,  254,  256. 

Locke,    John,   107. 

Long,   James  D.,   54. 

Longnecker,  Mrs.   E.  A.,  177. 

Looney,  Mrs.  J.,  177. 

Lord,  Rev.  Dr.  John  C,  364,  365,  374,  382. 

"Lot  42,"  14,  19,  174,  220. 

"Lot  43,"   174,   220. 

Lothrop,  Dr.  Thomas,  177,  193,  246. 
Obituary,    255. 
Bequest,    255,    292. 

Lovering,   Miss  Mary,  345. 

Luber,   John  G.,   177. 

Lund,  John,  350,  351. 

Lynn,  Rev.  Mr.,  89. 

Lyon,   Henry   L.,   316. 

Magdalene,   Sister,  218. 

Main  Street,  Buffalo,  20,  28,  41,  174,  219, 
220,  221,  254,  261,  373,  440  (1850),  388  (see 
Van  Staphorst  and  Willink  avenues). 

Managers,  Boards  of,  public  charities,  250. 

Mann,  Arthur  S.,  251. 

Mann,  Helen,  memorial  processional  cross, 
290. 

Mann,   Dr.   Matthew   D.,   145,    lo4,   176,   200, 
241,   246,   251,   290. 
Vestryman,   213,   223,   226,   228,   232,    241, 
245. 

Mann,    Mrs.    M.    D.,    248,   290. 


Mann,  Mrs.   Thomas  King,  249. 

Gift  of  silver  pitcher,   235,  236. 
Marling,  J.  H.,  177. 
Marvin,    M.,   17. 
Marvin,  Sylvester,  18. 
Mary,  Mrs.  Charles,  177. 
Mason,    Amasa,    81,    82. 
Mason  and  Slidell,  375. 
.Mason,  William,  13. 
Masonic  Society    and    ceremonies    (laying 

corner  stone,  1S19),  14,  33. 
Masonic  Temple,   169,   175. 
Masten,  Hon.  Joseph  G.,  323. 

Clerk  of  vestry,  47. 

Vestryman,    48. 
Mathews,  Amos  I.,  53,  58. 

Vestryman,  78,  79,  299. 
Mathews,    Thomas,    53. 
Matson,  Rev.  William  A.,  94,  97. 
Matthews,    James    N.,    383. 
Matthews,  Sylvester,  13,  17,  30,  43. 

Vestryman,   28,    30,   44,   45. 
Mayville,    N.    Y.,   22,   28,   173. 
McConnell,  Miss  M.,  organist,  351. 
McCready.  Mrs.,  348,  349,  350. 
McGuire,   Thomas,  89. 
McKee,    Miss    Elizabeth    A.,    149,    176. 

Her  gift  to  St.  Paul's,  225,  226. 

Font  in  "Crypt  Chapel"   her  memorial 
to  Mrs.   Shelton,  296. 

Death  and  obituary,  225. 
McKenna,   Harold  J.,   memorial,  291. 
McKenna,  Miss  J.  A.,  177. 
McKinley,  William,   President    U.    S.;  his 
death  at  Buffalo,  239,  240. 

Services   and    memorial    service   at   St. 
Paul's,  239,  240. 
McKnight    family,    177. 
McKnight,   T.   W.,   178. 
McMurray,    Rev.   Archdeacon,    146. 
McVickar,    Miss    Catherine,    177. 
McWilliams,  Mr.   and  Mrs.   R.   E.,  176. 
Meech,    S.    L.,    53. 
Meister,   E.   F.,  177. 

Memorial  altar  cloth  (Miss  Stevenson),  290. 
Memorial  bust  (of  Sheldon  Thompson),  188, 

272,  292. 
Memorial    (chancel)    to    Dr.    Shelton,    183, 

27s,    279,    280,    281,    282,    283,    395. 
Memorial    Hall,    Hobart   College,    Geneva, 

X.  Y.  (to  Bishop  Coxe),  238. 
Memorial   lectern   (to  Charles  W.   Evans), 

181,  287.  288. 
Memorial  pulpit  (to  Dr.  Shelton).  286,  287. 
Memorial  pulpit  (to  Dr.  Shelton),  286,  287. 

Coxe,  207. 
Memorial  volume  (on  Dr.  Shelton),  150. 
Memorial   windows    (committee   on),    180. 
Memorial  windows,  133,  134,  270;  also  "The 
Memorials,"    278  to  298. 

At  Nashotah,  381. 
Memorial    windows    to    Dr.    Shelton    (see 
Shelton  memorial  windows). 


Index. 


459 


Memorials,  The    (chapter  ou),    278    to    298. 
(See,  also,  260,  262.) 

Mendsen,    T.    H.,    177,    388. 

Men's  meeting,  249. 

Merrill,  F.   B.,  13,  17,  18,  30. 

First  clerk  to  vestry  (1819),  15. 

Milburn,   John   G.,   239,   253. 

Miller,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  T.,  177. 

Milne,  Rev.  Mark  H.,  curate,  255,  396. 

Milsom,    J.    Clark,   167,    356. 

"Ministers'  Meeting"    (1879),  124,  382. 

Minutes    of   Building   Committee,    extracts 
from: — 
1850,  55,  56,  57. 
1866,   103. 
1888,  394,  395. 

Mischka,  Miss  Anna  (Mrs.  Blackmar),  332, 
.334. 

Mischka,    Miss   Emily,    334. 

Mischka,   Joseph,   organist,  333,   343  to  350. 

Missionary   and    Benevolent   Society,    218. 

Missionary  and  Relief  Society,  198,  393. 

Missionary   efforts   of    Bishop    Hobart,    12, 
249,  250. 

Missionary   Fund,    26,    33,    34,    141. 

Missionary      League    (see    Laymen's    Mis- 
sionary League). 

Missionary  Society,  evening,  248. 

Missionary    Society     (Guild    of    the    Holy 
Child),    249. 

Missionary  spirit  and  work,  7,  8,  11,  12,  22, 
23,    141. 

Missionary   stipend,    11,    12,   22,    33,    34,    36, 
37,  42,  250. 
Withdrawn  (1831),  43,  322. 

Missions,  7. 

Mitchell,  W.  J.,  356. 

Mixer,  Miss  Minnie,  335,  340. 

Model    (wooden)    of   St.    Paul's    (1850),   315, 
390,  391,  392. 

Moore,  W.  Bowen,  177. 
(Died  1902.) 

Moore,  Mrs.  W.  Bowen,  248. 

Moore,  Mrs.  George,  organist,  323. 

Moore,  Mark  B.,  131,  343. 

Vestryman,  111,  116,  117,  119,  122,  123. 

Moore,  Henry,  53. 

Morgan,  Mrs.  G.  D.,  355,  356. 

Morgan,  Mrs.  Gifford,  249. 

Morgan,  William  (abduction  of,  1826),  33. 

Morris,  Henry,  clerk  to  vestry,  44,  45. 

Moseley,  Dr.,  347. 

Mothers'  Meeting,  248. 

Moulton,  J.  W.,  18. 

Muniment  room   in   great  tower,   310. 

Musical  criticism  (earliest  recorded  in  Buf- 
falo), 320. 

Musical   notation   of  St.    Paul's   bells,    300, 
301   (see  Bells). 

"Musica  Sacra  Society"  (1820),  319,  320,  362. 

Music  at  St.  Paul's   (1817  to  1903),  chapter 
on,  319  to  356. 

Music  Committees  (see  Music,  1S17-1903). 


Music,  gifts  for,  242  and  319  to  356. 
.Mynter,  Dr.  Herman,  241. 

(Died  1903.) 
Nagel,  J.  C,  131,  177. 

(Died  1903.) 
Nash,  Father,  185. 
Nashotah,  380. 
Nashotah  House,  381. 
"Nashotah  Society,"  380. 
Natural  gas  explosion  (1NS8),  165  (see  Fire). 
Natural  Gas  Fuel  Company,  195,  196. 
Navy,  United  States,  33,  36,  367. 
Needlework  on  the  altar  cloths  and  linen, 

270. 
Nelson,  Rev.  Dr.,  204. 
New  Amsterdam  (old  name  of  Buffalo),  7, 

199. 
Newman,  George  L.  (extract  from  letter  on 

Buffalo  in  1830),  384,  385,  387,  388. 
Newsboys'  and  Bootblacks'  Home,  250. 
Newton,  Herbert,  354. 
New  York  City,  12,  17,  27,  37,  68. 
New  York,  Diocese  of  (divided  1838),  97. 
Niagara  County,  9,  10,  11,  19,  20. 
Niagara  Bank  of  Buffalo,  14,  15,  18. 
Niagara  Falls,  18,  33,  377. 
Niagara,  Lord  Bishop  of,  124,  371,  372. 
Niagara  River,  18,  29,  108. 
Niagara  Street,  219,  220. 
Nichols,  Asher  P.,  58. 
Clerk  to  vestry,  50,  51. 
Vestryman,  86,  87,  89,  90,  93,  99,  102,  104. 
Noah,  Major  Mordecai  M.,  27,  230,  363    364 

366,  367,  368,  369. 
"Noah's   Ark"    (by    Israel    Zangwill),    369. 

See,  also,   Noah. 
Noah's  City  (see  Noah). 
Nordica,  Madame,  342. 
Norman,  John  H.,  Organist,  342. 
North  Porch  (new)  on  Church  Street,  171, 

265,  394. 
North,  Rev.  Dr.  Walter,  215. 
Norton,  Rev.  George  H.,  8,  11. 
Norton,  Miss  Lilian  B.,  342. 
"Now   by   St.    Paul's"    (editorial   iu   "Buf- 
falo Express,"  1880),  383. 
Numbering  of  the  Pearl  Street  rectory,  389. 
Nuno,  Signor  James,  338,  339,  340,  344,  345. 
Nuno,    Mrs.    James    (Kate   C.    Remington), 

335. 
Oaken  chest  for  chancel  books,   291. 
O'Conner,  Miss  Julia  A.,  354,  355,  356. 
O'Day,  Daniel.  178,  195. 
Odenheimer.  Bishop,  98. 
Offering  plates,  (X,  231. 
Offerings,  pledge  system  introduced  (1894). 

199,  201,  241. 
Offering,   Sunday  morning,   Committee  on, 

233,   248. 
Ogden,   T.  L.,  366. 
Ogilvie,  George  M.,  177. 
Ogilvie,  John  M..  177. 
Old  Folks'  Festival,  364,  389. 


460 


Index. 


Olver,  Nicholas,  311,  312. 

Onderdonck,   Bishop   B.   T.,   of  New   York, 

43,  98. 
O'Neill,  Matthew,  177. 

Bequests,  251. 
Orchestra,  first  at  St.   Paul's,  338. 
Orcutt,  Rev.  Samuel,  "History  of  Stratford 

and  Bridgeport,  Conn.,"  381. 
Ordination,  first  in    America,     by    Bishop 
Seabury      (1785)      (Philo      Shelton      first 
deacon),    40,    381. 
Organ,  first  in  frame  church  (1825),  25,  26, 
320    321    322. 
Organ  gallery,  325. 
Second  organ  (1829),  37,  59,  322,  323,  324, 

325,  384. 
Sold,  77,  326. 
In  new  stone  church   (1851),  66,  70,  77, 

81,  326. 
Moving  organ,  82,  83,  84,  86,  88,  92,  93, 

327,  MI'S,  329,  335. 
Sold,  114,  115,  336. 
New  organ  (1872),  114,  336. 
Chancel  organ   (1877),  143,  265,  341. 
Burned  (1888),  166,  265. 
Organ    (chancel)    (1889),    276,     277,     351, 
394. 
Organization     of  parish     (1817)       (see     St. 

Paul's). 
Organized  work  of  parish  (1901),  245  to  249. 
Organ  loft  (see  Organ). 
Otto,  Jacob  S.,  23,  29. 

Palcn,  Robert,  200,  233,  334,  335,  343,  344,  345. 
Palmer,  Alanson,  25,  385. 
Parish  Committees  (see  Committees). 
Parish  house,  old,  186. 

Demolished  (1896),  217   (see  rectory,  on 

Pearl   Street,    and   Guild   house). 
Parish     house,     new;     building     com- 
menced, 203. 
Description,  216,  217. 
Opened  (1897),  218,  311,  314. 
Subscribers,  434. 
Mortgage,  219,  223,  224,  225,  233. 
Debt  paid.  241,  243,  244. 
Subscribers,  437. 
Committee  on,  233,  248. 
Parishioners  of  St.  Paul's,  119,  120. 
Parish  of  St.   Paul's,     organized     work  in 

1901,  245  to  249, 
Parish  visitor,  216,   218,   226,  246   (see  Dea- 
coness). 
Partition  (glass)  between  "the  chapel"  and 

the   church    (1851-6),   83,    273,   274. 
Pastoral  staff  (see  crozier). 
Patterson,  John,  53,  54. 
Peacock,  Miss  Mary  (see  Mrs.  Charles  W. 

Evans). 
Peacock,  Judge  William,  173. 
Pealing     the    bells     (see     Chapter,     "The 

Chimes  of  St.  Paul's,"  299  to  313). 
Pearl  Street,  Buffalo,  19,  28,  31,  49,  50,  51, 
57,   91,   216,  217,   238,  254,  269. 


Pearl  Street  lot  (see  Rectory). 
Pearl  Street  rectory  (see  Rectory). 
Pease  family,   64. 
Pease,   James,   107. 

Pease,  John,  53,  54,  58,  64,  65,  90,  113,  131, 
291    385 

~  Vestryman,  81,  83,  85,  105,  106,  107,  112, 
114,  116,  117,  119,  122,  123,  126,  130,  136, 
139,  153,  155,  157,  163,  175,  187,  188,  192, 
196,  199,  202,  213,  223,  226,  228. 
Resignation,  233,  234. 
Resolutions  of  vestry,  234. 
Pease,  Mrs.  Sarah  Eliza  Barton  (Mrs.  John 
Pease),  90. 
Died  (Oct.  22,  1873). 
Obituary,  113. 
Memorial  alms  basin,  291. 
Pease,  Sheldon  T.,  64. 
Peck,  Dr.  James,  organist,  342. 
Peck,  Jesse,  43. 

Peirce,   Loring   (sexton  of  St.    Paul's),   26, 
31,  53,  107,  322,  385. 
Obituary,   107,   108    (note). 
Correct  spelling  of  name,  376. 
Cholera    in     Buffalo,     "a     hero,"     108, 

376. 
"City  Sexton,"  378. 

First  interment  in  Forest  Lawn   (1850), 
378. 
Perkins,    Thomas   G.,    177. 
Permanent  Endowment  Fund  (see  Endow- 
ment Fund). 
Persch,  Miss  M.  C,  177,  334. 
Persch,   Miss  J.,   248. 
Peterson,  Mrs.  Jesse,  346. 
Pews: — 

Frame  church,    first  sale   (1820),    16,   17 

iisi'7),   30. 
Square  pews,  32,   41. 
Taxation    (in   1830),   42,   43. 
Pews  in  galleries,  frame  church,  43. 
In   (1848),  52. 
Agreement    (1848),   54. 
Stone  church  (in  1849),  56. 
In  Clinton  Hall  (1850),  59. 
From    1851-1888,    70,    72,    78,    79,    81,    85, 
86,   87,   94,   100,   101,   102,   104,   105,   106, 
107,   111,  113,  114,  116,  136,  178,  427. 
In    gallery   over   chapel,    stone    church 

(1851-7),  70,  84,  274. 
In  restored  St.   Paul's,   178. 
Pew  ends,   277,   278. 

Pews  and  pew  rentals,   committee   on, 
etc.,  99,  102,  233,  248,  273,  277,  278. 
Phelps,   Rev.    Davenport,   185. 
Philips,  Charles,  13. 
Piano,  first  in  village  of  Buffalo,  321. 
Pickering,  John  S..  340. 
Pigeons  (see  Doves). 
Pillars  (1851)  of  wood,  69,  266. 
Pillars   (1889),   stone,  266,  272,  27::. 
Pitkin,    Miss   (Mrs.   John  V.   Tifft),   332. 


Index. 


461 


Pitkin,  Rev.   Dr.  Thomas  Clapp. 
Assistant  minister,  89,  90,  91. 
Assistant  rector,  92,  93,  99,  101. 
Clergy  List,  396. 
Resignation,    104. 
Death,  104. 
Platform    for    chancel    choir     (1882),     132, 

345. 
Plattsburg,  N.  Y.,  41,  42,  378. 
Pledges  (see  Offerings). 
Plogsted,  Louis  H.,  339,  340  to  345. 
Pomeroy,    Mrs.    Lydia,   53. 
Pomeroy,  Miss  F.,  321. 
Poole,  Miss  Anna  (Hoxsie), 

(Mrs.  J.  T.  Cook),  177,  327,  328. 
Porches: — 

Church    Street    (or    north)    porch;    old 

(1851),  70,  72,  265,   270,   274,  390. 
New  (1890),  170,  171,  265,  269,  273,  275. 
Erie  Street   (or  south)   porch,   100,   167, 
268,    270,    310,    315;    four   windows    in, 
391. 
Northwest  porch,   Pearl  Street,  68,  100, 

268,  269,  270,  390. 
West  porch,   Pearl   Street,   68,   101,   269, 
270,   314. 
Porter,    Peter   B.,   64. 
Porter,    Cyrus   K.,    &   Son,   architects,   265, 

426. 
Porter,   S.   L.,   177. 

Portrait   of    Dr.    Shelton    (by   L.    G.    Sell- 
stedt),    presented    to    him    by    St.    Paul's 
Guild   (1S79),   124. 
Potter,   Bishop   Henry   C.    (of  New   York), 

185. 
Potter,  Bishop  Horatio  (of  New  York),  98, 

213,  329. 
Pound,  Hon.  John  E.,  215, 

Chancellor  of  Diocese  of  Western  New 
York  (1901),  238. 
Powell,  Rev.  Arthur  C,  207. 
Pratt,  Lucius  H.,  54. 
Prentice,  Miss  A.  (Mrs.  Davidson),  352. 
Presbyterian  Society,  Buffalo,  15,  16,  23,  24, 

30  (see  First  Presbyterian  Church). 
Prevention  of  Cruelty  to  Animals,   Society 

for,  250. 
Prison-gate  Mission,  250. 
Processional  Cross  (see  Cross). 
Programmes  of  Church  Music,  346. 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church,   7,   8,   20,   63, 

182,  191,  203. 
"Protestant   Episcopal    Society    of    Young 

Men,"  11,  250. 
Provoost,  James  P.,  53,  54. 
Provoost,  John  M.,  233,  236. 

Treasurer,  261. 
Publications  of  Buffalo  Historical  Society, 

369,  372,  376,  378,  389. 
Pulpit,  in  frame  edifice,  31,  32,  384. 
Pulpit,  black  walnut  (1S51-1888),  70. 
Burned  (1888),  166. 


Pulpit,    stone     (Shelton   memorial)     (1889), 

286,  287. 
Pyne,   E.  W.,  organist,  352. 
Quarry  at  Hulburton, 

Bought    (1850),    55    and    note,    85;    sold 
(1861),    89. 
Queen    Victoria,    memorial    service    at    St. 

Paul's  (1901),  237. 
Radcliff,    Miss    B.    (Mrs.    Robt.    Hollister), 

321. 
Radcliff,   Jerry,   vestryman,   37,   42,   43. 
Radcliff  family,  385. 
Ralph,  Jesse,  53. 

"Random   Notes   on    the   Authors   of   Buf- 
falo," 389. 
Rankine,  Rev.  Dr.,  184,  185. 
Ransom,  Elias  (on  Organization  Paper  and 
first  vestry,  1817),  8,  9,  12,  13,  16,  17,  18, 
25,  30,  43,  141. 

Vestryman    (1817),    9   and    note,    12,    15, 

21,  22,  23,  24,  26,  141. 
St.  Paul's  organized  at  tavern  of  Elias 
Ransom  (1817),  8,  9,  12,  16,  141. 
Ransom,  Mrs.  Elias,  9. 
Ransom,  Elias,  Jr.  (on  Organization  Paper, 

1817),  9. 
Ransom,  Miss  K.,  321. 
Rathbun,  Benjamin,  25,  30,  43,  374. 
Vestryman,  28,  44,  46. 
Eagle  Tavern,   Buffalo,   16,  24,  366,  373, 
374. 
Rathbun,  Mrs.  Benjamin,  385. 
Receiving-vault,    in   church   edifice    (1854), 
79,  80,  81,  136,  142,  154,  269,  358. 
Use  discontinued  (1885),  154,  155,  359. 
Reconciling  and  Hallowing  of  church  edi- 
fice after  fire,  service  of,   (1890),  180,  182, 
183,  360. 
Records  of  diocese  (in  St.  Paul's),  310. 
Records   of   ministerial    duties    (Dr.    Shel- 
ton), 377,  378. 
Records  of  the  vestry  and  parish,  33,  37,  80, 

81,  172,  319. 
Rectors  of  St.  Paul's  (see  Clergy  List),  396. 

(Also  under  individual  names.) 
Rectory,  old  (Pearl  Street),  41. 
Lot  purchased  (1844),  49,  50. 
Rectory  finished  (1847).  51,  217,  358,  379. 
General  references,  63,  78,  83,  124,  129, 
136,  141,  145,  146,  150. 
Guild  House  (1884),  153. 
Street  numbering,  389,  390. 
(See   Guild    House   and    Parish    House, 
old.) 
Rectory,  61  Johnson's  Park, 

Purchased  (1895),  199,  200,  236,  241,  242, 
243,  244,  259,  360,  437  to  439. 
Rectory  Fund  subscription,  2(H). 
"Red-bound    Book"     (Dr.     Shelton's    sub- 
scription book,  1848),  52,  426. 
Red  Hook,  N.  Y.,  149,  378. 
Red  Jacket,  369. 


462 


Index. 


Reed,  Ebenezer,  13. 
Regester,  Miss  Charlotte,  249. 
Regester.   Rev.  Dr.  J.  A. 

Eighth  Rector   (1892),  193,  196,  198. 
Degree  of  S.T.D.,    L99. 
Year  books,  242,  243,  244. 
General    references,    202,    203,    213,    214, 
218,  223,  226,  228,  229,  231,  233,  235,  236, 
237,  24(1,  241,  245,  246,  248,  249,  255,  256, 
260,  311,  352,  360. 
Clergy   List,    396. 
Tenth  anniversary,  242,  360. 
Remington,  Cyrus  K.,   335. 
Remington,  James,    10. 

Remington,  Misses  (Kate  and  Sarah),  335. 
Removal    of   the    frame   church    (1850),    59, 
388,   389. 

(See    St.    Paul's.) 
Repointing  church  edifice,  155,  187. 
Report  of  the  parish  (1887),  158. 
Reredos    (black   walnut,    in   church   before 
fire),  installed  in  1867,  when  the  chancel 
was   refurnished,   103,    359. 
Illuminated   in   gold   and   colors    (1877), 

142,   341. 
Burned    (1888),   166,   167. 
Reredos,     in     restored     St.     Paul's     (1889) 
(brown  stone  and  mosaic  work),  278,  279, 
280,   281,   282,   395. 
(Part  of  Shelton   Memorial.) 
Restored   St.    Paul's,    181,    182,    183,    184. 
(See    architectural    description    of    the 
church   as  restored   after   the    Are   of 
1888),  265  to  278. 
Also  see  "The  Memorials,"  278  to  298. 
"Resurrection,  The"  (see  cantata). 
Rexford,  George  C,  326,  327. 
Reynolds,    James    L.,    387. 
Reynolds,    Miss,    332. 
Richmond,    Edward    S.,    176. 
Richmond,   John   R.    H.,    176,   233.   246,   251. 

Vestryman,  232,   234,   241,   245,   256. 
Richmond,  Gerald  H.,  176,  233. 
Richmond,    Mrs.     Geraldine    (Mrs.    Jewett 

M.    Richmond),    176. 
Richmond,    Miss    Lillian    R.,    176. 
Riker,    George,    57,    391,    422. 
Ringing  and  chiming  the  bells,   Dr.    Shel- 

ton's  bequest  for    (see   bells). 
Rochester,   Dr.   Thomas  F. 

Vestryman,  86,  87,  93,  99,  102,  104. 
Rodney,   Col.   G.   B.,  U.  S.  A.,  229. 
Rodney,    Mrs.    Janet    Warren    (Mrs.    G.   B. 

Rodney  1,    177.   229. 
Rogers,  Henry  W.,  101. 
Rogers,    Norman,    233,    246. 
Roman     Catholic     mass,     first   in     Buffalo 

(held   in    St.    Paul's,   1821),    361. 
Roman  Catholic  See   House,   324. 
Rooms  over  porches,  268,  27n,  390. 
Roosevelt,    Theodore,    President   of  the   U. 

S.     239. 
Root,    John,    on    organization    paper    (1817), 
9,   13,   18,   25,    30,    43. 


Root,  Marshall  J.,  226,  233. 

Rose,   Mrs.   Thomas,   178. 

Ruins  of  Church  edifice  (after  fire  of  1888), 

70  note,  166,  265,  268  (see  illustrations). 
Russell.  John  E.,  53,  55. 
Russell,    Miss    C.    (Mrs.    White),    352. 
Saint    Andrew,     Brotherhood    of,    218,    221, 

249. 
Saint      Andrew's      Mission      and      Church 
(Spruce  St..  or  German  Mission),  117,  122, 
125,  155,   158,   184,   190,  191,  242,  393. 
Saint  James's  Church,  Buffalo,  90,  101,  134. 

Organized  (1853),  302. 
Saint   John's    Church.    Buffalo. 

Organized  (1845),  51,  62,  65,  101,  168,  302, 
328,    386,    440. 
Saint  Luke's  Church,  Buffalo. 

Organized    (1857),   101,   1S4,   304. 
Saint  Mary's-on-the-Hill,    Buffalo. 

Organized  (1875),  117,  121,  184. 
Saint  Paul's  Chapel,  New  York,  27. 
Saint  Paul's  Church,  Buffalo: 

General  references:     Dedication,     Pre- 
face,  Historical     Outline     (1817-1903), 
357  to  360. 
Organized  (1817),  8,  9,  11,  12,  13,  141.  357. 
Incorporated  (1817),  8,  9,  11,  141,  357. 
First   church   service  held   at  house  of 

Elias  Ransom,  16. 
Subscription  for  frame    church    (1818), 

13. 
Lot  42  given  by    Holland    Land    Com- 
pany  (1819),   10,   14,   141,   174,  357. 
Corner     stone     of     frame   church    laid 

(1819),  14.  63,  174,  357. 
St.  Paul's  Church  was  the  first  building 
erected  for  religious  worship  in  Buf- 
falo, 16,  21,  22,  29. 
Deed   of   lot   42    (1820),    19,    141,    174,    357. 
Frame    church    consecrated    (1821),    20, 

174,  357. 
Seal  of  the  corporation  adopted   (1821), 

21,  360,  361. 
Bell  bought  (1821)  now  in  smaller  tow- 
er  (see   Bells). 
Glebe  lot  (Gospel  lot)  given  by  Holland 

Land  Co.,  1827  (see  Glebe). 
Frame   church    enlarged    (1828),    31,    32, 

34,   35,   36,   357. 
Rev.     William    Shelton     (fifth    rector), 

(1S29),    40,   41,   357    (see  Shelton). 
Side  galleries  built   (1831),   41.   43.   3E8. 
Basement  Sunday  School  room  finished 

(1833).  41,   45,  358. 
Talk   of  selling  church    and    lot,     and 

building  elsewhere   (1835-6),  45,  46. 
Descriptions   of    frame    church,    16,    17, 

::_'.  41.  141,  362,  365,  366,  384,  385. 
Committee    appointed    to    consider    the 

building  of  a  new  church  (1844),  49. 
Lot   on    Pearl    Street    puivhased   for  rec- 
tory  (1844),  49,  50,  358. 
Rectory  finished  (1847),  51,  358. 


Index. 


463 


Saint  Paul's  Church,  Buffalo.— 1  Continued.  1 

Subscription  started  for  building  new 
stone  church  (1847),  58,  258. 

Subscription  (1848),  52,  53,  358,  426. 

Richard  Upjohn  invited  to  furnish 
plans  (1848),  52. 

Requested  to  modify  those  sent,  54. 

Revised  plans  (1849),  55  (see  Upjohn). 

Vestry  decides  to  build  (1849),  56. 

Foundation  begun  (Sept.  1849),  57,  143, 
358. 

Last  service  in  frame  church  (March 
17,  1850),  59,  358. 

Frame  church  sold  and  removed  (1850), 
59,  325,  358,  388,  389. 

Services  held  in  Clinton  Hall  (1850-1), 
59,  62,  65,  325,  358. 

Corner  stone  of  new  stone  church  laid 
(1850),  62. 

Contents,  63.     See,  also,  14:).  325,  358. 

Stone  church  consecrated  (1851),  66,  67, 
143,  326,  358. 

Description  of  stone  church  (1851),  by 
"C.  W.  H."  (Rev.  C.  W.  Hayes, 
D.D.),  68.  69.  70,  71,  72. 

Basement  Sunday  School  room, porches, 
stone  steps,  receiving  vault,  and 
main  tower,  including  belfry,  built 
(1854-6),  79,  80,  81,  82,  83,  358. 

Chimes  (1856-7),  85,  358  (see  under 
Bells;  also  see  "Chimes  of  St. 
Paul's,"  299  to  313). 

St.  Paul's  during  Civil  War  (1861-5),  90. 

Organ  moved  to  west  gallery  (1863), 
82,  83,  84,  86,  88,  92,  93,  327,  328,  358. 

St.  Paul's  Cathedral  (1866),  102,  103, 
142,    182,    214,    215. 

Chancel  furniture  installed  and  walls 
of  church  decorated  (1867),  103,  359. 

.Main   spire   finished   (1870),    108,   109,   359 

(see  "Great  Tower  and  Spire."  314  to 
318). 

Smaller  spire  finished  (1871),  111,  358. 

Death  of  Dr.  Shelton  (1883),  143  to  152 
(see  Shelton). 

Parish  free  from  debt  (1882),  136,  143. 

Description  of  St.  Paul's  (18S3),  141  to 
14::. 

"The  Churches,"  174,  220,  440. 

Parish  statistics  (1887),  158. 

Burning  of  St.  Paul's  (1888),  165,  166, 
1''.7.  168,  359. 

Services  in  Temple  Beth  Zion  (1888-9), 
169,  170,  175,  187,  190,  350,  351.  359. 

Subscription  for  rebuilding  St.  Paul's 
(1888),  176,  177.   178. 

Restored  St.  Paul's,  service  of  Hallow- 
ing and  Reconciling  (January  3,  1890), 
182,    183,    184.    351.    360. 

For  description  of  edifice  see  "Re- 
stored St.  Paul's"  (1890),  l'''>.~,  to  U7v 
"The  Memorials,"  their  history',  de- 
scription and  inscriptions,  278  to  298. 


Saint  Paul's  Church,  Buffalo.  — (Continued.  1 

Bishop  Coxe's  25th  Anniversary  (1890), 
184,  185,  186,  360  (see  Coxe). 

Johnson's  Park  rectory  (see  Rectory). 

Day  of  election  of  vestry  changed, 
202. 

Old  and  new  parish  house  (see  Par- 
ish  House). 

Death  of  Bishop  Coxe  (see  Coxe). 

Shelton   Square,   219,   220,   251,    253,   261. 

St.  Paul's  in  1901;  organization,  work, 
etc.,  245. 

St.  Paul's  and  the  street  railway  com- 
pany (1901-2),  238,  251  to  253,  262. 

Deed  of  the  "triangles,"  254;  recorded, 
262. 

The  Endowment  Fund  (see  Endow- 
ment!. 

The  ivy,  doves,  sparrows,  298. 

The  chimes  of  St.  Paul's;  history,  de- 
scription, inscriptions  on  bells,  etc., 
299  to  313  (see  also  Bells). 

Description,  history,  etc.,  of  the  great 
tower  and  spire,  314  to  318  (see, 
also.  Great  Tower  and  Spire). 

History  of  the  Music  at  St.  Paul's 
(1817-1903),   319  to  356. 

Historical  outline  of  St.  Paul's  (1817- 
1903),    357   to   360. 

Notes  on  the  early  rectors,  361  to  365. 

Extracts  from  earlv  letters  of  Rev. 
Mr.    Searle,   365,   366. 

Major  Noah's  City,  "Ararat,"  27,  320, 
363,   364,   366  to  368. 

Accounts  and  anecdotes  of  Dr.  Shel- 
ton. 369  to  383. 

"Now  by  St.  Paul's,"  editorial  in  "Ex- 
press" (1880),  383. 

Early  years  of  the  church  in  Buffalo, 
383  to  385. 

The  Bank  of  England  and  St.  Paul's, 
385,  386. 

Formation  of  a  free  church  for  lake 
men  (1849),  386  to  388. 

Removal  of  the  frame  church  (1850), 
59,  358,  388,  389. 

The  wooden  model  of  St.  Paul's,  390  to 
392. 

St.  Paul's  Guild  (see  Guild). 

List  of  the  clergy  in  St.  Paul's  (1817- 
1903),   396. 

List  of  the  vestry  (1817-1903),  397  to 
420. 

The  architects  of  St.  Paul's,  421  to 
426. 

Subscription  lists.  426  to  439. 

In  conclusion,  St.  Paul's  in  1902,  440 
to    441. 

St.  Paul's  a  monument  to  Dr.  Shelton, 
143,   152. 

"Upjohn's  Masterpiece,"  143,   316,  422. 

Sunday  School   (see  Sunday  School). 


464 


Index. 


St.   Paul's   Church,    Mavville,    N.    Y.    (con- 
secrated, 1828),  28. 
St.  Paul's  Guild  (see  Guild). 
St.    Peter's    German    Evangelical    Church 
Buffalo    (bought    frame    edifice    of    St. 
Paul's,  1850),  59,  325,  388,  389. 
Saint    Pierre's    French      Roman      Catholic 
Church,    Buffalo,    formerly  Clinton   Hall, 
59,  62,  65,  325,  358. 
Saint    Philip's    Church,    Buffalo,    184. 
Saint   Thomas's    Church,    New    York,    163, 

164,    179,   231,    232. 
Salisbury,  H.   A.,  18. 

Salisbury,   Smith  H.    (on  organization   pa- 
per (1817),  9,   13,  17,   18,  19,  25. 
Vestryman,   15,   21,  22,   23,   24. 
Sanctuary  (or  Sacrarium),  71,  275,  276. 
Sanford,  Hon.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Shelton. 
Dr.  Shelton  marries  Mr.  and  Mrs.  San- 
ford, in  Paris,  95. 
Their    gift    to    St.    Paul's    (Christmas, 
1870)   of  the  first  brass  eagle  Lectern, 
95,  110,  111,  143. 
Resolutions  of  thanks  from  the  vestry, 
110,  111. 
Sanford,  James  W.,  53. 

Treasurer,    111,    112,    114,    115,    116,    117, 
119,  122,  123,  126,  130,  136,  140,  153,  154, 
155,  157,   163,   175,   177,  187. 
Resigns,     190;     resolutions    of    vestry, 

190. 
Death  and  obituary,  201. 
Sanford,  Mrs.  James  W.,  177.  201. 
Savage,   Thomas,  53. 
Sawin,    Silas,   53. 

Schimmelpenninck  Avenue,  Buffalo  (Niag- 
ara Street),  220,  221. 
Schimmelpenninck,    Rutger  Jan,   19. 
Schofield,    Mrs.    (Miss    S.    L.    House),    326, 

327,    334. 
Schuyler,    C.   B.,    organist,    330,    332. 
Schuyler,    Rev.    Mr.,    387. 
Scobell,    Richard,    312. 
Scott,    George,    305. 
Scroggs,    Gustavus  A.,   294. 
Scroggs,    Mrs.    Caroline     E.    (Mrs.    G.    A. 

Scroggs),   177. 
Scroggs  memorial  window,  294,  295. 
Seabury,   Bishop,    40,   211,   381. 
Seal  of  the  corporation,  21,  360,  361. 
Searle,  Rev.  Addison. 

Third  rector  (1825),  25,  357,  396. 
First  organ  in  St.   Paul's,  25,  26,  320. 
He     officiated    also    at    Grace    Church, 

Black  Rock.  26. 
Only  baptism  by  immersion,  26. 
Number  of  communicants  (1825),  26. 
Corner    stone    of    Ararat    laid     in     St. 

Paul's    (see   Ararat),   27,    366   to   369. 
On  committee  to  procure  "Glebe  lot," 

Mr.  Searle  obtains  from  Trinity,  N.  Y., 
the  glass  chandelier,  28. 


Searle,  Rev.  Addison. — (Continued.) 

Commemorative    services    after    deaths 
of   Ex-Presidents  Adams   and   Jetfer- 
son    (1826),   28. 
Delegate  to  convention  (1826),  28. 
Rev.    Mr.    Searle   procures   the    "Glebe 

lot"   for  the  parish,   29. 
Presides   at   annual   election,    30. 
Entertains  Rev.    Wm.    Shelton  in  1827, 

33,    357,    373. 
Reports  to  convention  the  enlargement 

of  edifice,    32. 
Account    of    Rev.    Mr.    Searle,    33,    363 

to   366. 
Resigns    rectorship,    on    account   of   ill 

health,  33,  34,  364. 
His  friendship   for  Dr.    Shelton,   34,   35, 

373. 
His  life  after  leaving  St.    Paul's,   36. 
His   death    (1850),    36. 
Harmony  in  the  parish  under  Rev.  Mr. 

Searle,    39,    141,    370,    373. 
Mr.   Lewis  F.    Allen's  account  of  Rev. 

Mr.    Searle,    363. 
Dr.    Shelton's    tribute    to    him,    364. 
Rev.    Dr.    Lord's   account  of   him,   364, 

365. 
Extracts  from  old  Letters  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Searle    to    Bishop    Hobart,    etc.,    365, 
366. 
Sears,  Miss,    348,    350,    351. 
Sears,  Miss   C.    E.,   344. 
Sears,  Richard,  vestryman,  46,  49. 
See    House    (see    Bishop's    residence),    101, 

102. 
Sellstedt,     Lars    G.,    124. 
Sermon-rest,  brass,  in  pulpit,  287. 
Services  (1901),  Sunday  and  week  day,  247. 
Services  for  deaf  mutes,  224,  247,  249. 
"Settlement  Work,"  of  St.   Paul's,   223. 
Severance,  Frank  H.,  373,  389. 
Sewing-school,   248. 
Seye,    Hendrik,   19. 
Seymour,    Miss    Catharine    F., 

(Mrs.   Edward  Ingersoll),  139. 
Seymour,  Erastus  B.,  vestryman,  89,  90. 
Seymour,  Horatio,  Jr.,  53,  58,  118,  297. 
Seymour,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Staats. 
(Mrs.  Horatio  Seymour). 
Local    president    sanitary    commission, 

90. 
Obituary,  118,  119. 

Bequest  to  St.  Paul's,  119,  133,  134,  297. 
Memorial  window  to  her  two  sons,  119, 

I::::.    134,    297. 
Vestry   resolutions,   134. 
Seymour,    Sir  John,    375. 
Seymour,  John  B. 

"Clerk  to  vestry,  89,  90,  94,  99,  102.  104, 
105,   106,   107,   111,   112,   114,   116,   117,   119, 

122. 
Death,     122. 
Resolutions  of  Vestry,  122. 


Index. 


465 


Seymour,  Mrs.  John  B. 

'  i.Mary   llaydeu),  328,  329. 
Shaw,    Joseph,    43. 

Sheldon,     Genesee    County.     N.     Y.     (first 
Episcopal  church  on  Holland  Land  Pur- 
chase), 8,  11.  250. 
Sheldon,    James,    13,    18. 
Sheldon,  Mrs.  W.   A.    (Julia  Sweet),   334. 
Shelton    China,    sale   of,    225. 
Shelton    Hall,    Nashotah,    381. 
Shelton    memorial    endowment    fund,    157, 
158,    224,    225,    214,    292. 

(See   also    Endowment    Fund.) 
Shelton  memorial  windows  (1887),  150,  154, 
15G,    158,    349;    destroyed    (1888),    166,    284; 
new    (1890),    266,    282,    283,    284,    394    (see, 
also,  East  Window). 
Shelton,   Rev.   Philo    (father  of  Rev.   Wm. 
Shelton),   40,    381;    memorial   window   to, 
at   Nashotah,    3S1. 
Shelton,  Mrs.  Philo  (mother  of  Rev.   Wm. 

Shelton),   35,   38,    40,   382. 
Shelton  Society,  158,  224,  249,  276,  287. 
Shelton  Square,  174,  175,  219,  220;  track  in, 
238,  251,  252,  253,  255;  square  widened,  261. 
Shelton,    Rev.    Dr.    William,    fifth    rector 
(1829). 
See   dedication   of   history   to   him   and 

preface. 
In  1827  visits  Niagara  Falls  and  Buffalo 
and    preaches  at  St.   Paul's    for    his 
friend,   the  rector,   the  Rev.   Addison 
Searle,  33,  357,  373. 
Rev.  Mr.  Searle  resigns  rectorship,  on 

account  of  ill  health,  33. 
Vestry  ask  the  advice  of  Bishop  Hobart 
as  to  Mr.  Searle's  successor,  and  wish 
to  invite  the  Rev.  Wm.  Shelton,  33. 
Bishop  Hobart's  letter,  34. 
Vestry  resolve  to  call  Rev.   Mr.    Shel- 
ton, 34. 
Letter  of  Mr.  Tillinghast,  34. 
Rev.  Mr.  Shelton  declines,  not  wishing 
to    leave    his    home    and     parish     in 
Bridgeport,  Conn.,  35. 
Rev.  Reverard  Kearney  called,  36. 
Vestry  again   offer    the     rectorship    to 
Rev.  Wm.  Shelton,  and  he  decides  to 
accept,  38. 
Resigns      his      rectorship      of     Trinity 

Church,  Fairfield,  Conn.,  38. 
His    letter    to    the    vestry    of    Trinity 

Church,  38. 
His  reasons  for  his  final  decision,  38. 
George  B.  Webster's  letter  to  him,  38, 

39,  40. 
Short  biographical  account,  40,  41. 
His    father,    Rev.     Philo     Shelton,    or- 
dained by  Bishop  Seabury,  40,  381. 
Account  of  Rev.  Philo  Shelton,  40,  41. 
Rev.    Wm.    Shelton's    first    sermon    as 
rector   of    St.    Paul's    (1S29),    41.    141, 
322,  357. 


Shelton,  Rev.  Dr.  William.— (Continued.* 

His     description     of     the     old     frame 

church,  41. 
His  salary,  42. 

His  instructions  in  Sunday  School,  45. 
Elected  first  president    of    the    Young 

Men's  Association    (1S35),   afterwards 

Buffalo  Library,  45,  374. 
His  marriage  to  Mrs.  Lucretia  Stanley 

Grosvenor  (1845),  50,  51,  358. 
Their  removal  to  new  Pearl  Street  rec- 
tory (1S47),  51. 
First  subscriptions    for  the  new   stone 

edifice,  Dr.  Shelton's  "red-book,''  52, 

53,  58,  426,  427,  428,  41".'. 
His   farewell  sermon   in  the  old  frame 

church,  60.  61,  62,  441. 
His  address  at  laying  of  corner  stone  of 

new  edifice,  62. 
His  first  visit  to  Europe  (1851),  63,  64, 

65,  326,  374 

Sermon  at  funeral  of  Sheldon  Thomp- 
son, 64,  65. 

His  return  from  Europe,  66. 

Presents  the  four  collection  plates 
1  1851  1  used  until  destroyed  in  fire 
(1S88),   66. 

New  stone  edifice  consecrated,  instru- 
ment read  by  Dr.   Shelton  as  rector, 

66,  67. 

His  first  sermon  in  new  edifice,  73,  74, 

75,  76,  77,  358. 
His  purchase  of  express  company  stock 

(1S55),  81,  82. 
Salary.  83. 
Ill  health;   nominates  Rev.   Dr.    Pitkin 

as  his  assistant,  S9,  90,  91,  396. 
Second   visit   to   Europe    (1864),    94,    95, 

101,  374. 
On  committee  to  make  St.   Paul's  the 

cathedral,  103. 
Mr.  Upjohn  writes  to  Dr.  Shelton,  103. 
Appoints  Rev.  Charles  L.  Hutchins  as 

his  assistant.   K.16,   396. 
Remarks  by  Dr.  Shelton  at  funeral  of 

Loring    Peirce,    recalling    old      days. 

early    city    burial    places,    etc.,    107, 

Ins. 

His  sermon  on  completion  of  main  spire 
(1870),  109,  110. 

Memorial  on  Lester  Brace,  111,  112. 

Salary  increased,  114,  116. 

Funeral  sermon  on  ex-President  Mil- 
lard Fillmore,  116. 

Centennial  service.  July  4,  1S76,  340. 

Dr.  Shelton's  teachings,  119,   120 

Salary.  122.  123. 

The  50th  anniversary  of  his  rectorate 
(1S79),  124.  125,  359,  382,  383. 

Congratulations  of  ministers'  meeting, 
124,  382,  3S3. 

Parish  affairs.  126,  127. 


466 


Index. 


Shelton,  Rev.  Dr.  William.— (Continued.) 

Resignation  of  Dr.   Shelton,  the  corre- 
spondence, 127,  128,  129,  130,  344,  359. 
Resolutions  of  vestry,  128,   129. 
Is  made  honorary  rector,   128,  143,   344, 

396. 
Vestry  executes  a  life  lease  of  the  Pearl 

Street  rectory  to  Dr.  Shelton,  136. 
Rev.  Dr.  John  W.  Brown  becomes  rec- 
tor, 136,  345,  396. 
Death  of  Mrs.    Shelton   (1882),   137,   138, 

305,  359. 
Friendship  of  Dr.  Shelton  and  Rev.  Dr. 

Ingersoll,  138,  375. 
St.   Paul's  Church  a  monument  to  Dr. 

Shelton's  zeal  and  energy,  143,  383. 
Death  of  Rev.   William  Shelton,    D.D., 

at   Bridgeport,    his   old    home    (1883), 

143,  347,  359. 
Resolutions  of  vestry,   144. 
The   lying  in  state   in   St.    Paul's,   145, 

146. 
The  funeral,  146. 

Rev.  Dr.  Brown's  sermon  at  the  funer- 
al, 147,  148,  369. 
The  burial  at  Forest  Lawn;   tombs  of 

Dr.   and  Mrs.   Shelton,  147,  150. 
Dr.    Shelton's   will,    148,    149,    150,    154, 

155,    186,    304. 
His  bequest  for  the  bells  and  other  be- 
quests, 149,  154,  155,  186,  187,   304. 
Charles    W.     Evans    and    William    H. 

Walker  appointed  executors,  149,  173, 

258,  259. 
Dr.   Shelton's  honorary  degrees,  149. 
Bishop    Coxe's    memorial    sermon    and 

characterization   of   Dr.    Shelton,   150, 

151,   152,  372. 
His  generosity,  375. 
Memorial  volume,  compiled  by  George 

Alfred  Stringer,  150,  151. 
The    memorial    chancel    windows    (see 

Shelton  memorial  windows). 
Anniversaries  of  his  death,  157,  158. 
The     Shelton       Memorial     Endowment 

Fund  started,   157,   158. 
Rev.    Dr.    Brown's    kindness    to      Dr. 

Shelton,    164,    369. 
The  Bishop's  erozier  (see  Crozier). 
The    old    rectory    (see    Rectory,    Pearl 

Street) . 
His  wishes  for  an  endowment  fund  for 

St.    Paul's,    224. 
The  Shelton  china  sold,  225. 
Miss  McKee,  225  (see  McKee). 
The    "Flying    Buttress,"    270,    314. 

\ltar  rail  part  of  memorial,  276. 
Entire  chancel  a  memorial.  183,  278. 
Altar    and    reredos,    with    inscriptions, 

Z'W  to  282,  395. 
East  window,  266,  282,  283,  284,  394  (see 

Shelton   memorial   windows). 
Inscriptions  on  window  tablets,  283. 


Shelton,  Rev.  Dr.  William. —  (Continued.! 

Pulpit  and  inscription,  286,  287  (see 
pulpit). 

The  ivy,  sparrows,  etc.,  298. 

Dr.  Shelton  furnishes  the  inscriptions 
for  the  bells  of  the  chime,  300,  301, 
302. 

The    "Rector's    Bell,"    302. 

Dr.  Shelton's  bequest  for  the  bells, 
149,  186,  304. 

Dr.  Shelton  and  the  old  bell-ringers, 
305. 

His  name  on  the  main  spire,  317. 

His  European  diary,   433. 

Historical  sermon  (published  1S67),  433. 

Accounts  and  anecdotes  of  Dr.  Shel- 
ton, 369  to  383. 

Extracts  from  Rev.  Dr.  Brown's  article 
on  Dr.  Shelton  in  "American  Church 
Review,"    370   to    372. 

Extracts  from  Dr.  Brown's  paper  on 
Dr.  Shelton  in  Buffalo  Historical  So- 
ciety,   372    to    376. 

The    Brussels    photo-portrait,    370. 

Dr.  Shelton  and  the  cholera  epidemics, 
373.  376,  ::7T. 

At   Rathbun's   Eagle   Tavern,   374. 

As  an  amateur  fireman,  374. 

Literary  pursuits,  374. 

Friendship   with  Rev.   Dr.   Lord,    374. 

Dr.  Shelton's  war  attitude,  375. 

Friendship  with  Bishop  DeLancey, 
Bishop  Coxe  and  Rev.  Edward  Inger- 
soll,   375. 

With  Lord  Bishop  of  Niagara,  371. 

Early   letters,    377. 

"Records  of  Ministerial  Duties,"  377, 
378. 

Officiates  at  the  first  funeral  in  Forest 
Lawn    (1850),   378. 

His  horse  and  horsemanship,  95.  374, 
379. 

Anecdote  about  rectory  door-plate,  379. 

Dr.  Shelton's  hospitality;  decorating 
the  church  for  Christmas;  dancing, 
379     380 

Anecdote   of  the   "Tower   Fund,"    380. 

Dr.   Shelton  and  Nashotah,  380,   381. 

Shelton    Hall.    Xashotah,    381. 

Shelton  window,    Nashotah,   381. 

Long  terms  as  rectors  of  the  Shelton 
family,    381. 

Graves  of  Dr.  Shelton's  parents,  381, 
382. 

Dr.  Shelton  at  opening  Buffalo  City 
Hall,  382. 

Congratulations  of  "Ministers'  Meet- 
ing"   (1879),   124,   382,   383. 

"Express"  editorial  (1880),  "Now,  by 
St.   Paul's,"  383. 

Dr.   Shelton   in   old   frame  church,   384. 

In  the  "Free  Church"    (1849),   387. 
Flower  garden   i"   church   lot,  389. 


Index. 


467 


Shelton,  Rev.  Dr.  William.— 1  Continued.) 

Rectory   (street  numbers),  389. 

Sunday  School,  4."..  392. 

Dr.  Shelton  and  Richard  Upjohn,  421, 
422,   423. 

The    "red-bound    book,"    420. 

Raising  subscriptions  for  building  the 
church,  426  to  434. 

Dr.  Shelton  and  the  Lord  Bishop  of 
Gibraltar,  31S.  432,   4::::. 

"Dr.  Shelton's  St.  Paul's,"  440. 

Dr.  Shelton's  voice;  reading  the  serv- 
ice,   120. 

General  references  to  Rev.  Dr.  Shelton : 
—48,  53,  58,  62,  65,  84,  94,  102,  103,  104, 
105,  106,  112,  113,  115,  117,  121,  122,  123, 
126,  131,  153,  17::.  174.  183,  186,  201,  222, 
258,  270,  276,  295,  314,  322,  326,  328,  340, 
344,  357,  358,  359,  360,  364,  365,  366,  385, 
387;  Clergy  List,  396;  421,  422,  423,  426, 
429,    431,    432,    43::.    43,4. 

(See,  also,  Rectory  and  St.  Paul's.) 
Shelton,    Mrs.    Lucretia    S.    (Mrs.    William 
Shelton), 

Marriage  to  Dr.  Shelton,  50,  358;  51,  94, 

149,  217.  232.  223.  371,  375. 

The  old   Bible  presented  to  her,   105. 

Death,    137,    225,    305,    359. 

Obituary,    137,    13S. 

Resolutions   of   vestry,    137. 

Her  grave   in   Forest  Lawn   Cemetery, 

150. 
Memorial  window,  in  "the  chapel,"  149, 

150,  273,    295,    296. 

Memorial  font  in  "Crypt  Chapel,"  225, 
278.    296. 
Shepard,  John  D.,  53,  vestryman,  86. 
Sheppard,   James  D.,   first  organist   (1827), 

32,    36;    pew    owner,    43,    44,    50,    53;    first 

piano  in  Buffalo,  321,  322,  323;  tributes  to 

him,  321,  324;  death,  325,  385. 
Memorial  tablet  in  St.  Paul's,  293. 
Bequest  to  St.  Paul's,  154,  293,  325. 
Sherman.  T.  W.,  43. 
Sicard,    Edward    M.,    354. 
Sicard,  George  J.,  333. 
Sick  relief,  249. 

Sidewalks  in  village  of  Buffalo,  31,  385. 
Sidwav,  Miss  G.   (Mrs.  L.  G.  Chaffin),  335. 
Sill,   Miss,   329,   330. 
Sill,  Seth  E.,  53,  55. 

Silliman,   Mr.  and   Mrs.   James  R.,   177. 
Silver  plate  in  corner  stone  (1819),  14,  63. 
Singing  schools.  321,  322,  333. 
Sizer,  Henry  H.,  5: 
Sizer,  Rev.  Henry  S.,  193,  312. 
Slade,  Harry,   43. 
Smiley,  Miss  Eva  M.   (parish  visitor),  226, 

246. 
Smith,   Rev.  Dr.   Charles  H.,   134. 
Smith,    Mrs.    Charles  H.    (Harriet  Hayes), 

90. 
Smith.    Elisha   T.,   178. 


Smith,  Mrs.  Elisha  T.,  178,  249. 

Smith,   George  H.,  111. 

Smith,    Gerrit,   organist,   342,   343. 

Smith,  Mrs.  Gerrit  (see  Miss  C.  Butter- 
field). 

Smith',  Henry  K.,  53. 

Smith,   Isaac,  367. 

Smith,    Hon.   James   M.,   157,    176,   193,   194, 
195,  200. 
Delegate  to  councils  of  the  diocese,  180, 

187. 
Chancellor  of  the  diocese,  185,  215,  227, 

228,  230. 
Obituary,  22:.   22s,  229,  230. 
Bequest  to  St.  Paul's,  230,  244,  292. 
Memorial  to,  260. 

Smith,  Mrs.  James  M., 

Death  and  obituary,  157,  227. 

Smith,  James  R.,  vestryman,  153,  154,  17.5, 
157,  163,  164,  167,  175,  176,  187,  188,  192,  196, 
199,  200.  202,  31::.  22::.  220.  228.  232,  241,  245, 
256,   348,   352.    353,    354,    395. 

Smith,  Rev.  Joshua,  387. 

Smith,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Lee  H.,  177. 

Smith,  Miss  M.,  327,  328. 

Smith,  Philip  Sherwood,  157,  177,  193,  228, 
230,  231,  233,  2::o.  24<:.  260,  29s.  353,  354. 

Smith,  Sheldon.  28. 

Smith,    S.    T.,   177. 

Smith,   T.    Guildford,   131,   343. 

Smith,  Thornton,  352. 

Smith,  William  Warren,  178. 

Snyder,  Miss  Ida  A.  (Mrs.  McCready),  344, 
345. 

Societies  in  parish  (1901),  248,  249. 

Society  of  Friends,  96,  172. 

Society,  Women's  (presented  silver  com- 
munion service.  1S25-6),  289,  290. 

Sounding-board   over   pulpit    (1864),   94. 

Sparrows,  English,  298. 

Special  Council  for  election  of  Bishop 
(1896),    213. 

Spelder,  Henry  S.,  312. 

Spencer,  John  C,  16. 

Spencer,    Misses,    177. 

Spire,  Main  (see  Great  Tower  and  Spire). 

Spire,  small  tower  and  spire  (see  Tower). 

Sprague,  Noah  P.,  43,  321. 

Sprague,  Rev.  Dr.  William  B.,  40. 

Spruce  Street  Mission   (see  St.  Andrew's). 

Squire,  Miss  Agnes,  176,  280. 

Squire,  Henry  C.  and  Sarah  L.  (Bible  in 
"Crypt    Chapel"),    297. 

Squire,  H.  C,  vestryman,  105. 

Staats  family,  385. 

Staats,  Jeremiah,  20,  43,  53,  118. 

Stacy,  John  (master  builder  of  frame  edi- 
fice). 421. 

Stacy,    W.,    17. 

Stadnitski  Avenue  (Church  Street),  19,  220, 
221  (see  Church  Street). 

Staff.   Bishop's   (see  Crozier). 


468 


Index 


Stage  coaches,  43,  250. 

Stage  roads,  29,  189. 

Stagg,  Dr.  Henry  R.,  30,  321. 

Stained  glass.  69,   ...  7::,  395,  423  (see,  also, 

"Memorials"  and  St.  Paul's). 
Standing  Committee  of  Diocese,  23,  212,  214, 

251,  257. 
Stanley,   Miss  Lucretia   (see  Mrs.   William 
Shelton). 
Staphorst,  Van,  Avenue  (Main  Street  north 

of   Church    Street),    220,    221. 
Staphorst.  Van,  Jan  G.,  19. 
Staylin,  Mrs.  G.   F.,  337,  338. 
Steele,  O.  G.,  362. 
Stephan,  C.  D.,  355. 
Stevens,  Horatio,  vestryman,  4.",. 
Stevens.  Rev.  X.  S.,  assistant,  195,  201,  396. 
Stevenson,  Miss  Amelia,  189,  248,  270,  290. 
Stevenson,  Edward  L.,  53,  54,  176,  294. 
Vestryman,  52,  56,  62,  65. 
Building  Committee  (1849),  56. 
Obituary,  188,  189. 
Stevenson,   Mrs.   Amelia  Geer  (Mrs.   E.   L. 

Stevenson),  1S9,  294. 
Stevenson,  George  P.,  189. 
Stevenson,  Miss  Georgiana  (see  Mrs.  F.  S. 

Thorn). 
Stevenson,  memorial  window,  294,  297,  298. 
Stille,  Miss,  331. 
Stimpson,   Charles,  246. 
Stone,  Rev.  J.  K.,  105. 
Stone,  John  B.,  43. 
Stone  shed  (old),  317. 
Stone  sidewalk  on  Erie  Street,  86. 
Stone   tracery   of   great   east   window,    282, 

283,  394. 
Stonham,  Mark,  305. 
Stow,  Joseph,  421. 
Strachan,  Bishop,  66. 
Strasmer,  Miss  J.,  346. 
Streater,  Henry,  53,  55. 
Streater,  Mrs.,  and  family,  178. 
Stringer,    George   Alfred,   article   in    "Kal- 
endar,"  50th  anniversary     Dr.     Shelton, 
124,  131,  176. 
Vestryman,   126,    130,   136,   139,   153,   154, 

155,  157,  163,  175,  187,  188,  192,  196. 
Resolutions  on  death  of  Rev.  Dr.  Shel- 
ton,   144. 
His  article  in  "Kalendar"  on  death  of 

Dr.   Shelton,   146,  147. 
Shelton  memorial  volume,   written  and 

compiled  by  him,  150,  151. 
On  Building  Committee  (1888),  167,  395. 
Letter  to  Rev.   Dr.  Aaron,  168. 
Delegate  to  Diocesan  Council,  180. 
Address  on  Bishop  Coxe,  218. 
Sketch  of  St.  Paul's  Guild  (written  for 
this  history),   392,  393,   394. 
Stryker  family,  385. 
Subi  crlptions: — 

Building  frame  edifice  (1818),  13,  426. 
Support  of  parish   (IMS),  18. 


Subscriptions. —  (Continued.) 
First  organ  (1825),  25,  320. 
Music  (1827),  321. 
Xew  organ   (1829),  37,  322. 
New   Sunday   School   room,   etc.    (1833), 

44,  45. 
Rectory   (1845),  50. 
Building    Fund    Association    (1847 1.    58, 

430. 
Building  the  new  stone  church    (1848), 

52,  53,  54,  178,  426  to  429. 
Completing  church  (1851),  66,  429,  430. 
Dr.     Shelton's     European     trip     (1S51), 

64,  65. 
Xew  organ  (loan)  (1851),  66. 
Building  and  organ  (1S52),  78. 
Completing  tower,   porches,  etc.   (1854), 

80,  431. 
Receiving  vault  (1854),  80. 
Tower,  etc.  (1856),  83,  84,  431. 
"Tower  room,"  85. 
Salary  of  assistant  (1862),  90,  91,  93. 
Removing  organ  to  west  gallery  (1S63), 

93. 
Residence  of  Bishop  (1865),  101,  102. 
Main  spire,  interior  improvements,  etc. 

(1866),  103,  432. 
Completing  main  spire,  etc.  (1869),  106, 

433. 
(See  Dr.  Shelton's  sermon,  1S70),  110. 
Small  spire,   stone  crosses,   etc.    (1S71), 

111,  434. 
Xew  organ  (1873),  114,  118,  336. 
Cleaning  edifice  (1873),  115. 
Indebtedness  of  parish   (1881),  131,  132, 

434. 
Ditto  (1882),  133. 

Parish  free  from  debt  (1882),  136,  143. 
Salary  of  assistant  (1887),  156, 
Subscriptions  for  rebuilding  after  fire. 

(1888),  171,  176,  177,  178,  188,    134. 
Parish  deficit  (1893),  196. 
Xew  rectory  (1895),  200,  434. 
Xew  Parish  House   (1896),   203,   217,   434 

to  437. 
Paving  Parish  House  mortgage,   parish 
debt,  etc.   (1900-1901),  233,  241,  243,  244. 
Subscribers,  437  to  439. 
Concrete  sidewalks  (1900-1902),  236,  255. 
Sullivan's   "Festival    Te   Deum,"   338,    339, 

3)7. 
Sunday  School,  24,  45,  31,  41;  in  McAr- 
thur's  Hall  (1850-1),  65,  80,  81,  85;  statis- 
tics (1860),  392,  95,  96,  108;  fund,  118,  119, 
127,  133,  134,  142,  152,  154;  statistics  (1887), 
158.  General  References,  179,  210.  22 1. 
248,  256,  269,  270,  273,  278,  291,  296,  297,  298, 
328,  329,  330,  358,  359. 

Notes  on,  392  (sec.  also,  "Crypt  Chapel"). 
S.  S.  of  German  Mission,  Spruce  Street, 
117,    155,    158,    393    (see   also    St.    An- 
drew's). 


Index. 


469 


Sunday  School  children's  window,  297,  298. 
Sunday    School    memorial    to    Mrs.    John 

Pease  (the  alms  basin),  291. 
Sutton,  William,  53;  clerk  to  vestry,  86. 
Swan  Street,  Buffalo,  79,  324. 
Sweeney,  James,  17. 

Sweeney,  James,  17,  131,  145,  176,  200,  227. 
Vestryman,  102,  104,  105,  106,  107,  117, 
175,  187,  188,  192,  196,  199,  200,  202,  213, 
223,  226,  228,  232,  241,  245,  256. 
Delegate  to  Diocesan  Council,  201,  212, 
219,  224,  230. 
Sweeney,  Mrs.  James  (Kate  Ganson),  118. 
Memorial  gift  (for  Mrs.  Kate  S.  Swee- 
ney Harrower),  291,  292. 
Memorial   window    (for   Mr.     and   Mrs. 
John  S.  Ganson),  295. 
Sweeney,  James,  Jr.,  233. 
Tablets,   brass,   on  sill  of  great  east  win- 
dow, 283,  284. 
Tablets,   brass,   memorials    (see   Sheppard; 

Truscott),  293. 
Tablet  in  Temple  Beth  Zion,  187,  190. 
Talcott,  Mrs.  Gertrude  Squire,  279. 
Taunt,  Emory,  323. 
Tavern  (see  Ransom). 

Eagle  Tavern  (see  Rathbuu). 
Temple  Beth  Zion   (old  temple  on  Niagara 
Street),  168,  169,  170,  175,  350,  351,  359. 
Thanks  of  vestry  to,  175. 
Tablet  in  new  temple,   Delaware  Ave- 
nue, 187,  190. 
Letter   of   Lewis    F.    Allen    (18S8),    366, 
367. 
Thompson,   A.    Porter,   53,   65,   88,   131,   145, 
164,  176,  180,  188,  200,  229,  237,  292,  395. 
Vestryman,  89,  106,  107,  122,  123,  126,  130, 

136,  139,  153,  155,  157,  163. 
Building  Committee  (1S8S),  167. 
Warden,  175,  187,  188,  192,  196,  199,  200, 
202,  213,  223,  226,  228,  232,  241,  24.",,  256, 
261. 
Delegate  to    Diocesan  Council,  203,  212, 
219,  224,  238. 
Thompson,    Mrs.    Matilda  C.     (Mrs.   A.    P. 
Thompson),  176;  death,  201. 
Resolutions  of  vestry,  201. 
Thompson,  Albert  S.,  177,  233. 
Thompson,  The  Misses  Alice,  Agnes,  Lae- 

titia,  Clara  and  Matilda,  177. 
Thompson,  Edward  W.,   177. 
Thompson  family,  229,  385. 
Thompson,    Sheldon    (on   Organization   Pa- 
per and  first  vestry  (1S17I,  8.  9,  43,  53.  54, 
58,  153,  229,  237,  379.    Removed  to  Buffalo 
from  Black  Rock  (in  1827),  64. 
Vestryman,  9,  12,  15,  21,  22,   42,   43,   44, 

45,  46,  47,  48. 
On  Building  Committee  (1849),  56. 
Resigns,  56;  death  (1S51),  64;  obituary, 

64,  65. 
Memorial  bust,  188,  272,  292. 


Thompson,  Mrs.  Sheldon  (Catherine  Bar- 
ton), 8,  65,  292. 

Thompson,  Mr.  and  Mrs.   Sheldon,  177. 

Thompson,    William  A.,   50,   53. 

Thorn,  Mrs.  Frank  S.,  189  (Georgiana  Stev- 
enson). 

Thornton,  Thomas  P.,  311,  326,  327  (mem- 
ber of  St.  Luke's  first  vestry,  1857), 
304. 

Thurstone,   William.   168. 

Tillinghast,  Dyre,  43. 

Clerk  to  vestry,  30,  31,  33,  34. 

His  care  of  the  records  of  the  parish, 

37. 
Vestryman,   42. 

Tillinghast  family,  385. 

Tillinghast,  James,  176. 

Tillinghast,  Miss  (Mrs.  P.  P.  Burtis), 
279. 

Tolmie,   Robert  J.,   346,    347. 

Tower,  Great  (see  Great  Tower  and  Spire.) 

Tower  and  spire,  small  (or  Church  Street 
tower),  32,  70,  72,  83,  115,  142,  275,  316,  317; 
old  bell  in,  32,  59,  303;  height  of,  142. 

Tower  of  frame  edifice,  16;  made  higher, 
31,  32. 

Bell,  21,  27,  28,  32,  59  (see  Bells). 

Townsend,  E.  Corning,  233,  246. 

Tracy,   Albert   H.,   30,   53,   54. 
Elected  vestryman,  79. 

Tracy,  A.  Haller,  58. 

Tracy,  Francis  W.,  58,  279,  282. 

Tracy,    Mrs.    Agnes    Ethel    (Mrs.    Francis 
W.).     Died  1903. 
Gift  of  Shelton  memorial  altar  and  re- 
redos,  278  to  282,  395. 

Transepts,  north  and  south,  267,  268;  "The 
Chapel"  is  not  a  transept,  274. 

Travis,  Milnor,  355. 

Treasurers'  Reports,  17,  18,  25,  56,  65,  73, 
80,  81,  83,  86,  93,  100,  101,  102,  103,  104,  105, 
106,  107,  111,  113,  115,  116,  123,  136,  155. 

Tree,  old  elm,  299. 

Triangles  of  land  deeded  to  St.  Paul's 
(1902),  254,  360,  262. 

Trinity  Church,  Buffalo,  organized  (1836), 
Ifi.  322;  62,  65,  66,  101,  13S,  139,  157,  168,  184, 
194,  212.  224,  227,  302,  326,  385,  386,  440. 

Trinity  Church,  New  York  City,  10,  11,  12, 
27,  28,  52,  97;  spire,  109;  126,  142,  180,  316,. 
421,    423. 

Trinity  Church,  Fairfield,  Conn.,  38.  10, 
H,  378,  381. 

Trinity  Church,  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  98,  117,  204, 
2o5. 

Trowbridge,   John   S.,  8. 

Trowbridge,    Dr.    Josiah    (on    Organization 
Paper   and    first    vestry    (1817),    8,    9,    10, 
15,   17,    18,   19,   25,   27,    30,   43,   55,    141,   319, 
322,  324. 
Vestryman,  9,  12,  15,  24,  26,  46,  47,  49. 
Warden,  28,  31,  36,  37,  44. 


47Q 


Index. 


Trowbridge,  Mrs.  Josiah,  10. 

Trower,  Rt.  Rev.  Walter  John,  D.D.,  Lord 
Bishop  of  Gibraltar,  318,  432,  433. 

Truscott    family    (memorial,    brass    tablet 
in  St.  Paul's),  293. 

Tucker,  Nathaniel,  Sr.,  154,  304,  305,  311, 
312. 

Tupper,  Samuel  (on  Organization  Paper 
and    first    vestry,    1817),    9,   141. 

Turret  buttress  of  main  tower,  311,  314. 

Ulman,  J.  J.,   vestryman,  28. 

Underhill,  Miss  E.  L.,  339,  341. 

Upjohn  &  Company,  422. 

Upjohn,  Richard,  Sr.,  architect,  52,  54; 
estimated  cost  of  St.  Paul's,  55,  56,  68; 
increase  explained,  72;  commissions,  73; 
Dr.  Shelton's  reference  to  him  (1851),  75; 
84,  101,  103,  104,  143,  265,  267,  270,  274,  275, 
310,  314,  315,  316,  327,  390,  391;  account  of, 
421  to  425. 

Upjohn,  Richard  M.  (son  of  above),  422; 
account  of,   425. 

Ushers  (committee  of),  1846,  51;  1901, 
248. 

Vaille,  Mrs.  T.  P.,  347,  348. 

Van  de  Venter,  James,  58. 

Van  de  Venter,  Mrs.  S.  B.,  53. 

Van  Dyke,  Rev.  Dr.,  186. 

Van  Staphorst  Avenue,  Buffalo  Village, 
(Main  Street,  north  of  Church  St.),  220, 
221. 

Van  Staphorst,  Jan  G.,  19. 

Van  Valkenberg,  George,  249. 

Van  Valkenberg,  Roy,  246,  312. 

Van  Vliet,   Mr.,  organist,   332,  333. 

Vases,  for  Altar,  290. 

Verplanck,   Judge  Isaac  A.,  227. 

Vested  (or  surpliced)  choir  (see  Choirs). 

Vestibule,  Main  (originally  filled  with 
pews),  100,  101,  267,  268. 

Vestry  elections  (Easter  Monday),  9  and 
note,  12,  15,  21,  22,  23,  24,  26,  28,  30,  31, 
36,  42,  43,  44,  45,  46,  47,  48,  49,  50,  51,  52, 
56,  62,  65,  78,  79,  81,  83,  85,  86,  87,  88,  89, 
90,  93,  99,  102,  104,  105,  106,  111,  112,  114, 
116,  117,  119,  122,  123,  126,  130,  136,  139,  141, 
153,  155,  157,  163,  175,  187,  188,  192,  196, 
199,  200,  202;  alteration  of  date  of  elec- 
tions (1896),  202.  First  election  under 
new  rule  (Advent,  1896),  213,  222,  223,  226, 
228,  232,  241,  256,  261  (see  vestry  list,  397 
to  420). 

Vestry  of  St.  Paul's,  list  of  wardens  and 
vestrymen  (1817-1903),  397  to  420. 

Vestry  room,  old  (1851),  68,  70,  265,  291; 
new   (1889)  170,  171,  271,  275,  276. 

Viele  family,  229. 

Viele,  Henry  K.,  53,  237. 
Vestryman,  65,  81,  83,  85. 

Viele,  Mrs.  Laetitia  Porter  Thompson  (Mrs. 
H.     K.     Viele),     65,     176,     188,     200,     229, 

292. 
Obituary,  237. 


Viele,    Sheldon     Thompson,    131,    237,    238, 

260,    352,    353. 

Vestryman,    123,   177,   188,   192,   196,   199, 

200,    202,    213,    223,    226,    228,    231,    232, 

237,    238,    241,    245,    256. 

Viele,    Mrs.    Sheldon      Thompson      (Anna 

Dorr),    177,   217. 
Village    of    Buffalo    (see   Buffalo). 
Village  tea-party  (1821),  21. 
Vollenhoven  Avenue,  Buffalo  Village  (Erie 

Street),   19,   20,  221. 
Vollenhoven,   Cornelis,   19,  29. 
Vollenhoven,  Hendrik,  19. 
Vosburg,   Nathaniel,  13. 
Wadsworth,   Miss  G.,  348. 
Walden,  Ebenezer,  17,  30. 
Walker,    Charles    R.,    96. 
Walker,   Edward  C,  140,   176,  193,  217,  333, 
334,  335,  337,  341,  342,  343,  344,  345,  346,  348, 
349,  352,  353;  death  and  obituary,  217,  218, 
353. 
Walker,  Jesse,  48,  49. 

Walker,     John     Kimberly,     233,     246,     249, 
259. 
Clerk  of  vestry,  261. 
Walker,    Miss   Mary   E.,   177. 
Walker,    Samuel   G.,    145,   146,   177. 
Walker,    Stephen    (Sr.),    superintendent   of 
Sunday  School,  45,  96;  53,  58,  256,  387. 
Vestryman,  47,  4S,  49,  50,  51,  52,  56,  62, 
65;  death,  95;     resolutions  of  vestry, 
95;  obituary,  95,  96. 
Walker,    Stephen,    145,    146. 
W;ilker,    Rt.    Rev.    William   David,    D.    D., 
Bishop  of  Western  New  York. 
Elected    (1896),    212. 
Account  of,  212,   213. 
First  sermon  as  Bishop  of  the  diocese, 

214. 
Enthronization,    214,    215,    216,    237,    238, 
360. 
Walker,    William   H. 

"Junior   Vestry,"   57,   58,    110,   121,    173, 

258,    260,    429. 
Vestryman,    86,    87,    88,    89,    90,    93,    99, 

102,    104,    105,    106,    107,    114. 
Building  Committee  (1888),  167. 
Finance   Committee,    133,    135,    136,   171, 
225;  chairman  of,  for  many  years,  259. 
Warden,  112,  116,  117,  119,  122,  123,  126, 
130,  136,  139,  153,  155,  157,  163,  176,  187, 
188,  192,  196,  199,  200,  202,  213,  223,  226, 
228,  232,  241,   245,   256. 
Diocesan  Council,  194.  201,  212,  219,  224, 

226,   230,   238,   251,   258. 
Death   (January  4,  1903),  256. 
Obituary,  256,  257,  258,  259,  260. 
Resolutions  of  vestry,  260. 
General    references,    51,    53,    57,    58,    96, 
125,  131,  133,  134,  135,  143,  149,  164,  167, 
171,  172,  173.  176,  179,  180,  182,  195,  196, 
200,    201,    203,    218,    222,    225,    299,    336, 
395,  429. 


Index. 


471 


Walker,   Mrs.  William  H.   (Edith  Kimber- 
ly),  153,  176,  259,  322. 
Obituary,    197. 
Resolutions  of  vestry,  198. 
Walker,  William  H.,   Jr.,  233,  259. 
Wardens     and     vestrymen     of  St.     Paul's 

(1N17-1903),  list  of,  397  to  420. 
War,  Civil,  90,  375. 
War  of  1812,  7. 
War  of  the  Revolution,  194. 
Warren,    Edward    Stevens,   53,    55,    65,    229, 
299,   305,   323,   381. 
Vestryman,  48,  62,  65,  78. 
Music  Committee,  79. 
Death,  90;  resolutions  of  vestry.  91. 
Warren,  Mrs.  E.  S.  (Agnes  L.  Thompson), 
65,   91,   176,   188,   200;   death,   228,  229;   be- 
quest to  St.   Paul's,  230,  235,  238,  244,  245, 
292,  322. 
Warren,  E.  S.,  177,  229,  233. 
Warren  family,  229. 
Warren,  Horatio,  43. 

Warren,  William  Young,  177,  200,  229,  233; 

Clerk  to  vestry,  123,   126;   resigned,  126. 

Warren,   Mrs.  William  Y.    (Clara  Barton), 

177,  200,  236,  249. 
Webb,  A.  L.,  organist,  323. 
Webb,  George  J.,  53. 
Webster,  Andrew  T.,  organist,  240,  246,  247, 

348,  352  to  356. 
Webster  family,  385. 

Webster,    George   B.,   correspondence  with 
Rev.   Wm.   Shelton   (1829),   38,  39,   40. 
Warden,  23,  24,  26,  28,  30,  31,  36,  42,  43, 
44,  45,  46,   47,   48,  49,  50,  51,  52,  56,   62, 
65,    78;    treasurer,    26,    42,    44.    46,    47; 
account  of  his  work  in  St.  Paul's,  79, 
80;    death,    and    resolutions    of    Ves- 
try, 84. 
General  references,  25,  30,  33,  37,  43,  45, 
46,   49,   53,   54,   55,   58,   66,   322,   323,   324, 
384,  385. 
Webster,  George  C,  51,  53,  57,  58,  299,  387. 
"Junior  Vestry,"   57,   58,   110,   121,   173, 
258,  260,  429. 
Webster,  Miss,  324. 

Weed,  De  Witt  C,  51,  53,  54,  97,153,199,299; 
"Junior   Vestry,"   57,   58,    110,   121,   173, 

258,  260,  429. 
Vestryman,  83,  85,  116. 
Building  Committee,  103,  107. 
Treasurer,  86,  87,  89,  90,  94,  99,  102,  104, 

105,  106,  107,  111. 
Founding   of   Saint   Mary's-on-the-Hill 

(1875),  117. 
Obituary,  120,  121. 
Resolutions  of  vestry,    120. 
Weed,  Mrs.  De  Witt  C.  (Lucy  H.  Kimber- 

ly),  121,  153,  176. 
Weed,  George,  13,  16,  18,  25,  30. 

Vestryman,  15,  21.  L'l'. 
Weed,  George  T.,  17^. 


Weed,  Hobart,  107,  176,  199,  203,  233,  238. 
Vestryman,    196,   199,   200,   202,   213,   223, 

226,   228,   232,   241,   245,   256. 
Delegate  to  Special  Council,  212. 
Music,  105,  114,  140,  217,  328,  329,  331,  333, 
335,  336,  337,  341,  342,  343,  344,  345,  346, 
347,  348,  349,  352,  353,  354. 
Weed,    Mrs.    Louisa    M.     (Chapin)     (Mrs. 
Thaddeus),   13,   53,   120,   176. 
Death  and  obituary,  199. 
Weed,    Shelton,    233. 
Weed,  Thaddeus,  13,  16,  18,  25,  30,  120,  121, 

199. 
Welch,  Miss  H.  (Mrs.  B.  F.  Spire),  352,  353. 
Welch,  Miss  L.  C,  342,  346. 
Welch.  Samuel  M,   (died  1903). 

"Recollections  of  Buffalo,"  32. 
Welch,    Theodore   F.,   clerk  of  the  vestry, 

126,  130,  136,  140,  153,  154. 
Wells,    Miss   Alice,    330,   332,    333,    334,    336. 
Welton,   Rev.   Alanson,  8,   12. 
"Western  Literary  Messenger,"  388,  389. 
Western  New  York,  7,  8,  11,  13,  27. 

Diocese  of  (formed  1838),  62,  97,  98,  99, 
157,  204,  208,  212,  214,  220,  230,  238,  249, 
310. 
West  gallery  (see  Gallery,  West,   and  Or- 
gan). 
Wheaton,    Miss   E.,    334. 
Wheeler  familv,  385. 
Wheeler,   F.    S.,   53. 
Wheeler,   J.    H.    H.,    388. 
Wheeler,    Lester,    176. 
Wheeler,    Maxwell    S.,   233. 
White,  Bishop,  97. 
White,  David,  312. 
White,   Francis  S.,  193. 
White,  Herbert  A.,   312. 

White,  Dr.  James  P.,  vestryman,  47,  4S,  322. 
Whiting,     Miss,     326. 
Wilkinson,   Robert   (sexton),   167,   180. 
Willard,    Nelson,   53,   54. 
Williams,  C.  E.,  177. 
Williams,    Rev.    G.    Mott,      assistant,    179, 

359,    396. 
Williams,    John    W.,   57. 
Williams,  Ralph,  sexton,  85;  death,  115. 
Williams,   Thomas  R.,   building  stone  edi- 
fice,  56,  57  foot  note.   422. 
Williams,  William,  30,  43,  49,  52,  53,  54,  55, 
323,    376,   377. 
Vestryman,  28,  30,  37,  47,  48,  49,  50,  51, 

52,  56. 
Treasurer,  48,  49,  50,  51,  52,  56. 
Building   Committee    (1849),    56;    obitu- 
ary. 57;  resolutions  of  vestry,  57. 
Williams,   Mrs.   William   (Eliza  Hollister), 

57. 
Willink    Avenue,     Buffalo    Village    (Main 
Street,  south  of  Church  Street),  20,  220, 
221.  254. 
Willink,  Jan,  19,  29. 
Willink,  Wilhelm,  19,   29. 


472 


Index. 


Will  of  Dr.   Shelton,  148,  149,  150,  154,  155, 

18G,   304. 
Wilson,   Charles  Robert,  178,   193,  195,  233, 
■r:,s\.  -z.\s,  246,  -im. 
Clerk  to  vestry,   192,   196,   199,   200,   204, 

213,  223,  226,  230,  232,  242. 
Vestryman,   199,   200,   202,   213,    223,   226, 
228,    232,    241,    245,    256;     warden,    261; 
treasurer      Church      Building     Fund 
(1893),  196;  Building  Committee,  new 
Parish  House,  203,  218. 
Wilson,  G.  R.,  53. 
Wilson,  Robert  Preston,  176,  193,  196. 

Vestryman,    153,   154,    155,   157,   163,   175, 
187,     188,     192;     Building     Committee 
(1888),  167;  treasurer  of  Building  Com- 
mittee  (1888),  194,   196,   395;   obituary, 
194,    195;    resolutions    of   vestry,    194; 
memorial  chancel  books  and  case,  236, 
291. 
Wilson,    Mrs.    Robert    Preston     (Margaret 
L.   Smith),  157,  176,  195,  200,  227,  230,  231, 
236,  260. 
Windows  (see  Stained  Glass). 
Wirt,    Miss    Ella,    346. 
Woehnert,    George,    329. 
Woehnert,   Mrs.   George,  327,  329. 


Woehnert,  John  G.,  88,  327,  329,  330,  331,  332. 

WToehnert,   Mrs.   J.   G.,   329. 

Woltge,  William,  335. 

Women's   Union,    250. 

Wooden  model  of  St.  Paul's,  315,  390  to  392. 

Woodruff,  Lauren  C,  92,  131,  343. 

Vestryman,  90,  93,  99,  102,  104,  105,  106, 

111,  112,  114,  116,  117,  119,  122,  123. 
Building  Committee   (1867),   104;    (1871), 
111. 
Worthington,    Rev.    Dr.,    133. 
Wrright,  Mrs.  C.  T.,  177. 
W'yckoff,  Dr.  C.  C,  vestryman,  89,  111. 
Yale  College,  40,  97,  138. 
Year  Book,   198,  201,  223,  229,  233,  235,  241, 

242,    243,    245,   249. 
Yeonnet  (or  Yeorret),  Rev.  J.  L.,  25. 
Yerkes,  Mr.,  332. 

Young  Ladies'  Fair,  58,  80,  299,  301,  431. 
Young   Men,    Protestant   Episcopal   Society 

of,  11,  250. 
"Young  Men's  Association"  of  Buffalo,  45; 

Dr.  Shelton  first  president  of,  45,  374. 
Young  Men's    Christian    Association,    250, 

257. 
Young  Men's  Fund  (1847),  58,  430. 
Zangwill,  Israel,  369. 


Errata. 

As  stated  in  the  Preface,  pages  17  to  159  were  put  in  type  and 
printed  in  sheet  form  in  1895,  but  were  not  published.  Since  then, 
additional  old  documents  and  records  have  been  found,  which  make 
the  following  corrections  necessary  : 

Page  17,  twelfth  line  from  top,  for  16  read  18. 

Page  17,  seventeenth  line  from  top,  for  Jesse  D.   Hoyt  read  Joseph  D.  Hoyt. 

Page  19,  eleventh  line  from  bottom,  "  Liber  6  of  Deeds  at  page  247."     In  the  new 

county  records  the  page  is  255.      (See  page  220,  this  history.) 
Page  19,  second  line  from  bottom,  for  Standiska  read  Stadnitski. 
Page  21,  fourth  line  from  bottom,  Hark  should  probably  read  Hanks. 
Page  24,  twelfth  line  from  top,  for  John  B.  Camp  read  John  G.  Camp. 
Page  25,  second  line  from  top,  Yeonnet  should  perhaps  be  Yeorret. 
Page  25,  fourteenth  line  from  bottom,  for  Jesse  D.  Hoyt  read  Joseph  D.  Hoyt. 
Page  25,  ninth  line  from  bottom,  for  Hargrave  read   Hargreave. 
Page  32,  tenth  line  from  top,  James  D.  Sheppard  became  organist   in  1827  (not   1829, 

as  stated).      He  served  until  Easter,   1850. 
Page  33,  first   line  at  top,   Rev.  Addison   Searle  became  rector  March  30,    1825  (not 

1824,  as  stated). 
Page  37,  second  line  from  top,  for  Ratcliff  read  Radcliff. 
Page  41,  thirteenth  and  seventeenth  lines  from  top,  Rev.  William  Shelton  was  ordained 

juicst  in  1826  (not    1825,  as  stated);  and  in  Trinity  Church,  Fairfield,  Conn,  (not 

St.   Paul's,  Fairfield,  as  stated).      (See  page  378,  this  volume.) 
Page  42,  sixteenth  line  from  bottom,  for  Ratcliff  read  Radcliff. 
Page  43,  thirteenth  line  from  bottom,  for  Ratcliff  read  Radcliff. 
Page  43,  seventh  line  from  top,  for  Hargrave  read  Hargreave. 
Page  68,  eleventh  line  from  top,  for  1850  read   1851. 
Page  68,  eleventh  line  from  bottom,  140  feet  should  read  175  feet. 
Page  84,  fourteenth   line  from   bottom,  George  B.   Webster   died   April    3,    1857  (not 

April  4,  1854,  as  stated). 
Page  95,  fifth  line  from  top,  Stephen   Walker  was  a   vestryman    for   fifteen  years  (not 

twenty  years,  as  stated  in  the  resolutions). 
Page  98,  seventeenth,    eighteenth,    anil   nineteenth    lines  from   top,    in    the   article  on 

Bishop  Coxe,  should  read  :     "He  was  graduated  in  theology  at  the  General  Theo- 

logical    Seminary,    June  25,    1841  ;    was  ordered  Deacon,   June  27,    1841,   in   St. 

Paul's  Chapel,  New  York  City."     To   Bishop  Coxe's  degrees,  on  the  same  page, 

fourth    line   from   bottom,   should  be  added  the  Doctorate  in  Divinity  which  he 

received  from  the  University  of  Durham,  England,  in  [888. 
Page  99,  seventeenth   line   from   top,  Bishop  Coxe's   "Christian    Ballads"    were    first 

published   in    1840  (he   was   then   twenty-two   years  old),  not  in  1845,  as  stated. 

I  See  pages  206  and  423. ) 
Page  104,  eighth   line   from   top,   add   name  of  Lauren  C.    Woodruff  to    the    Building 

Committee. 
Page  116,  fifth  line  from  top,  add  name  of  John  Pease  to  the  vestry. 
Page  308,  ninth   line  from  bottom;   Charles  Lamb  says  of  bells:      "the  music  nighest 

bordering  upon  heaven." 


